José Navarro Llorens was directed very early to painting, and he studied at the School of Fine Arts of San Carlos, in his hometown. After his student period we lose track of him, and we will not find him again until 1895 when, according to Pantorba, he participated for the first and only time in the National Exhibition of Fine Arts, obtaining an honorary mention. That same year was the year of the consecration of Joaquín Sorolla, who unanimously won the first medal in that contest. Although they were lifelong friends, it is possible that Navarro, given his bohemian and humble character, did not aspire, like Sorolla, to make a brilliant career of official laurels and courtly prestige.

It seems that he never intended to project his wo...