Luis Alvarez Catalá (1836-1901) studied at the Escuela Especial de Pintura, Escultura y Grabado in Madrid and was a pupil of Federico de Madrazo at the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando. In 1857, he received a scholarship for Rome. He remained there, however, until the 1890s and eventually returned to Madrid to take up the position of Director at the Prado. He exhibited in Florence, Madrid, New York and at the World Exposition in Paris in 1867 and 1889. He is mostly known for his interior and genre scenes. Some of his works are in the Museo de Bellas Artes de Asturi. His paintings have sold for up to $96,000 at auction.
