Salvador Martínez Cubells

Salvador Martínez Cubells (9 November 1845 – 21 January 1914) was a Spanish painter and art restorer (Paintings conservator), who specialized in history painting and Costumbrismo.

Biography He was born in Valencia, and received his first art lessons from his father, Francisco Martínez Yago, who was also a painter. Among his first works was "Baile de labradores" (Peasants' Dance), which was shown at the National Exhibition of Fine Arts in 1864. Three years later, he exhibited a historical painting that was purchased by the :es:Count of Pinohermoso. A year later, the Count bought another of his paintings at the :es:Exposición Aragonesa. Many of the paintings were smudgy, badly cracked, and smeared with plaster, so he took the initiative of restoring them to their original state, as much as possible. The home's owner at that time, Baron Émile d’Erlanger, had planned to sell them at the upcoming Exposition Universelle (1878). By the end of 1875, only four of the fourteen paintings had been transferred. This very slow progress apparently prompted d'Erlanger to change his mind and donate them to the Spanish government instead.

In addition to his painting and restoration, Martínez Cubells assisted Carlos Luis de Ribera in providing ornamentation for the San Francisco el Grande Basilica.

He was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic and the Order of Carlos III, was a member of the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando and served as a professor at the "Escuela de Artes y Oficios" in Madrid. He died in Madrid, aged 63. His son, Enrique, also became a painter.