Luis Menéndez Pidal's brother was the famous historian of Spanish literature, Ramón Menéndez Pidal. Luis himself studied law, graduating with flying colours, and showed a gift for literature. However, he decided to devote himself to painting, which he considered to be his primary calling. After a period studying in Spain, he won a scholarship to Rome, where he met José Villegas y Cordero and Francisco Pradilla. He later succeeded Federico de Madrazo in the chair of drawing and apparel at the Higher School of Fine Arts. His genre works A good judge is the best witness (Second Medal at the 1890 National Exhibition), The Empty Cradle (First Medal at the 1892 Exhibition) and Salus Infirmorum [Salvation of the Sick](First Medal at the 1899 Exhibition) are good examples of his realist style and versatile talent, which earned him the Gold Medal at the International Exhibition in Munich in 1897, and the Honorary Medal for his lifetime's work at the National Exhibition in Madrid in 1924. As a portrait painter, he showed a vigorous simplicity, elegant without affectation, as evidenced in the portraits he was commissioned to paint of several of the Banco de España governors.
Luis Menéndez Pidal's brother was the famous historian of Spanish literature, Ramón Menéndez Pidal. Luis himself studied law, graduating with flying colours, and showed a gift for literature. However, he decided to devote himself to painting, which he considered to be his primary calling. After a period studying in Spain, he won a scholarship to Rome, where he met José Villegas y Cordero and Francisco Pradilla. He later succeeded Federico de Madrazo in the chair of drawing and apparel at the Higher School of Fine Arts. His genre works A good judge is the best witness (Second Medal at the 1890 National Exhibition), The Empty Cradle (First Medal at the 1892 Exhibition) and Salus Infirmorum [Salvation of the Sick](First Medal at the 1899 Exhibition) are good examples of his realist style and versatile talent, which earned him the Gold Medal at the International Exhibition in Munich in 1897, and the Honorary Medal for his lifetime's work at the National Exhibition in Madrid in 1924. As a portrait painter, he showed a vigorous simplicity, elegant without affectation, as evidenced in the portraits he was commissioned to paint of several of the Banco de España governors.