ROMERO BARROS, Rafael.- Handwritten correspondence by Rafael Romero Barros, sent to Rafael Ramírez de Arellano [y Díaz de Morales] (one to Teodomiro Ramírez de Arellano, his father), Spanish writer and historian, first director of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Historical Arts and Sciences of Toledo, and a member of the Hispanic Society of America. Most of the letters are written on the letterhead of the Director of the Provincial School of Fine Arts of Córdoba, and those that are dated are in the years 1888, 1889, 1891 and 1894. In addition to the 9 letters, a note is attached unsigned handwritten letter that accompanies one of the letters, and a card from "Rafael Romero y Barros / Pintor de Cámara hº de SM", handwritten on both sides. The letters are written in a friendly, even affectionate tone and are extensive, occupying the entire page on both sides, usually dealing with the work of both: paintings, exhibitions, and publications, mutual friends, professional disappointments, etc. To highlight some fragments, we mention the curious letter in which he tells how he was born in Moguer by "accident": "ask Moguer for baptismal certificate... my father, my mother as well as all my grandparents went there near Palos and Parodying César, they arrived, I was born and they brought me... I will be 50 years old next May 30, I was born in 1838... my energy, my lightness, my vigor have not waned, but no matter how long it lasts, how much time do they have left?... Regarding my dissertation at the Athenaeum, it was forced, because I didn''t even have time to study...". In the letter dated 1891: "... of the article that you will have received from the Barbilapinho who makes you eat soups and whose author by words that my son Enrique heard from a child of D. Rafael Blanco the apothecary of the Jewish quarter, who told him announced the post before it came out.." Undated letter: "You will know how, regarding the sale of the paintings, I have no great interest for the simple reason that perhaps your predictions will come true and I may not have completed any painting for the Madrid exhibition and in that case even when they are not quality paintings for a national exhibition, having them, at least I can send them and include my name in the exhibition..." In the letter dated 1894, Romero Barros expressed his disappointment at not being mentioned in a publication by Ramirez de Arellano : "the disappointment that supposes for a teacher [..] that a disciple of his as preferred and esteemed as you are has thus forgotten someone who has always loved him so much". Interesting first-hand testimony of the perspective of the Spanish painter on different aspects, both professional and personal, father and teacher of Julio Romero de Torres, director of the School of Fine Arts, curator of the Archaeological Museum, member of the Economic Society of Córdoba, of the Royal Academy of San Fernando, among other positions.

It also attaches the obituary of Mr. Rafael Romero y Barros, sent to the Secretary of Civil Government of Seville.