José García Barzanallana
- 1898
- Oil on canvas
- 125 x 90,5 cm
- Cat. P_232
- Comissioned from the artist in 1898
Manuel Ojeda's painstaking, descriptive technique was well suited to portraits such as this one, which stands out in the gallery of governors for its profusion of crosses and decorations. The sitter has one hung around his neck and five more on the left-hand side of his coat. He is also wearing the sash of the Order of Charles III and his full official regalia with its elaborate gold embroidery and swords at his waist. This portrait evidences better than almost any other just how important the post of Governor of the Banco de España was in a career in office.
Governor of the Banco de España 1895 - 1897
José García Barzanallana García de Frías was the son of Treasury Department employee Juan García Barzanallana, originally from the town of Cangas de Tineo in Asturias, and of María García de Frías. His brother Manuel served as Treasury Minister three times in Moderate Party governments between 1856 and 1868; he received the title of Marquis of Barzanallana in 1867; he was Speaker of the upper house of the Spanish Parliament during the Restoration and Chairman of the Council of State in the government formed by Cánovas.
José García Barzanallana's career in politics and the administration ran parallel to that of his brother Manuel. He graduated in Law from the University of Barcelona in 1838, though he had already joined the civil service before graduating. In 1850 he became First Deputy Head of the Public Treasury and in 1856 he was appointed Director General for Customs and Duties. In 1857 he went into politics, becoming a member of parliament for Alcañiz (Teruel). He was elected for two further terms, as MP for Vivero (Lugo) in 1864 and for Guadalajara in 1867.
During the six years of the Revolution, he came out firmly in favour of the restoration of the House of Bourbon in articles written for several newspapers, including La Concordia, El Siglo, El Parlamento and El Reino, and especially as Director of the journal El Tiempo from 1870 onwards.
In 1875, during the Restoration, he was made a Councillor of State, and from July 1876 to July 1877 he served as Treasury Minister, replacing Pedro Salaverría. In the elections of February 1876, he was elected to the Senate in representation of the province of Lugo and was made a lifetime senator in April 1877.
He served as Chairman of the Court of Audit from January 1884 to November 1889. From July to December 1895, he chaired Compañía Arrendataria de Tabacos and was then appointed to the post of Governor of the Banco de España, which he held until October 1897. His mandate as governor saw the publication of the Guía del Banco de España para 1897 ['1897 Guide to the Banco de España'], written by his brother Manuel. This is a highly interesting compendium of the history, administrative organisation and financial aspects of the Bank. In July 1900 he was appointed Minister for the Court of Contentious-Administrative Affairs and then in November he became Chairman of the Council of State.
He joined the Ateneo in Madrid at an early age, and became its secretary in 1847. He was a member of the Academies of Jurisprudence and Legislation, History and Moral and Political Science. He was also a prolific author, specialising in tax matters.
Other works by Manuel Ojeda y Siles