Manuel Salvador Carmona


Manuel Salvador Carmona was a Spanish engraver, designer and illustrator. Two of his brothers were also artists:, a sculptor, and Juan Antonio Salvador Carmona, also an engraver.

Biography

Carmona was born in Nava del Rey. His first studies were with his uncle, the sculptor Luis Salvador Carmona, at the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando. Later, he studied in París, learning the burin technique from Nicolas-Gabriel Dupuis and becoming married to Marguerite Legrand. In 1759, he became an assistant at the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture. Two years later, he was admitted as a member and received the right to style himself "Engraver to the King".
In 1762, with his reputation at its height, he returned to Madrid, presenting himself at the Academia with a request to be named "honorary director". This was not granted but, in 1764, he was named an Academician of Merit and, in 1777, upon the death of Juan Bernabé Palomino, he became Director of Engraving. The following year, having become a widower, he married the artist Anna Maria Mengs, daughter of the court painter, Anton Raphael Mengs. In 1783, he became the court engraver. He died in Madrid.
He also served as a teacher. Among his notable students were his brother, Juan Antonio, José Gómez de Navia,, Luis Fernández Noseret and Fernando Selma. A few decades after his death, he was largely forgotten.

Selected works