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.

• Julián Gállego Serrano
• María José Alonso

Juan Manuel de Urquijo Urrutia came from a humble background. He studied mathematics in Valladolid before being introduced to the world of finance and business by his uncle, Estanislao de Urquijo y Landaluce, who had made his fortune as a railway proprietor.

In 1870 he founded the credit partnership Urquijo y Arenzana, renamed Urquijo Hermanos in 1879 after his brother Lucas joined the firm, and which was eventually to become the Banco Urquijo. He lent money to the Crown (first to King Amadeus I and then to King Alfonso XII, helping to finance the expenses of the restoration the House of Bourbon from an early stage) but also to the republican government of Castelar. He was also involved in founding the Banco de Castilla and the Banco Hipotecario.

Paralleling his career as a financier, he held important shares in key businesses at the time, mainly in industry. He founded a number of large companies, including Altos Hornos de Vizcaya, Duro Felguera and Sociedad Española de Construcción Naval, and had a stake in Fábrica de Productos Químicos de Abono, La Papelera and La Fábrica de Cerámica, Vidrio y Cristal de La Moncloa, among others.

Despite defending his political neutrality as a businessman, he took an active involvement in politics, like many of his contemporaries (including his Uncle Estanislao, who became mayor of Madrid and senator for Avila). He was an alderman on Madrid City Council (1875), a member of parliament for Vizcaya (1879-1881) and a senator (1881-1889). He was offered the post of Finance Minister by both Cánovas and Sagasta, but declined on both occasions.

He became the second Marquis of Urquijo in 1889, following the death of his uncle Estanislao, who had been granted the marquisate by King Amadeus in 1871 in gratitude for his financial support to the Crown.

A generous patron of his native Alava, he founded charities and promoted local businesses. He turned the palace of Lamuza, in Llodio, into a centre of social activity, entertaining businessmen, nobles, intellectuals, artists and even monarchs.

An enthusiastic gardener, he developed a type of rose which he named 'Marquesa de Urquijo'.

Elena Serrano García