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(1) Esteban March
(b Valencia, c. 1610; d Valencia, c. 1668). He was one of the outstanding pupils of Pedro Orrente. March’s energetic narrative style is best appreciated in his battle scenes, which were favoured by his middle-class patrons, although he also painted religious works. His apprenticeship with Orrente is apparent in an early work, Crossing of the Red Sea (signed, c. 1640; Madrid, Prado). The types and attitudes of the figures recall the paintings of Orrente, but the lively brushwork is characteristic of March. According to Palomino, Esteban March was an unpredictable man, and his highly-strung temperament is often expressed in his battle scenes, for example the Triumph of David, Surrender of a Fortress and Joshua Halting the Sun (all Valencia, Mus. B.A.). The compositions of his work are often derived from Flemish and Italian engravings of the work of such artists as Antonio Tempesta. The brushwork in his paintings is lively and sketch-like, and this characteristic is intensified in his numerous drawings of battle scenes (Madrid, Prado; Florence, Uffizi; Madrid, Real Acad. S Fernando, Mus.; Valencia, Mus. B.A.). March also practised portraiture, of which two drawings, a Self-portrait and Portrait of the Artist’s Son, Miguel (c. 1650; both Madrid, Prado) are extant.
Part of the March (i) family
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