Collection: Luis Ricardo Falero

Luis Ricardo Falero (1851–1896) was a Spanish painter, inventor, engineer, and architect. Born in Granada, he pursued studies in Richmond, England, and France before settling in London from 1880 until his death. Falero is associated with the post-Romantic tradition of the late 19th century, developing a distinctive style that incorporated mythological, orientalist, and fantasy themes.

Falero specialized in depicting female nudes within astrological, supernatural, and fantasy settings. His technique involved meticulous drawing and an almost photographic precision, often executed in oil on canvas. He explored themes of magic and astronomy, creating detailed compositions that frequently featured naked women in these imaginative contexts. A watercolour of his work, Twin Stars, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

During his lifetime, Falero's paintings were primarily held in private collections across Europe and the United States. He received a favorable reception in London and was valued among artists in the United Kingdom, France, and the United States, though he remained largely unknown in his native Spain. He sometimes used the self-proclaimed title of Duke of Labranzano.