Born in 1786 in Alcalá de los Gazules, Pedro José Andino, who later modified his surname by adding that of his paternal grandfather, entered the Seminary of San Bartolomé in Cádiz at the age of eleven, and afterwards studied law at the University of Seville, where he was awarded his doctorate in 1806. His rival in those years was Alberto Lista, who was finally elected over him as deputy for the University. From 1813 to 1816 he lived in the south-west of France, showing him to be a sympathiser of the ‘intruder government’. Between 1820 and 1823 he reappeared in Catalonia, practising as an advocate and legal expert in Tortosa and Tarrasa. Finally, in 1827, he offered his services to the Finance Minister, Luis López Ballesteros, to help draw up the Code of Commerce and the Civil Code after a brief career as a theorist in these fields. Owing to his knowledge of foreign court proceedings, the State Council and other leading national institutions commissioned him to write reports, bills of entry and other documents related to his different specialities.

By a Royal Order of 4 July 1829, he drafted a decree to set up a bank for trade allowances, factoring, payments, loans and deposits. This later became the foundational decree of Banco de San Fernando, which is why his figure is so closely linked to that institution. In 1832 he drafted the document for its internal management, and soon afterwards, in recognition of his valuable work at the bank, he was made ministerial attorney to the Internal Revenue Council. He also helped to draw up the Criminal Code, a merit that earned him the appointment of attorney-general for the Council and Chamber of Castile. Later, he set about standardising the excise system and developing customs controls, as well as making numerous contributions to Spanish commercial legislation. Sainz de Andino’s incessant activity on behalf of the legislation and conceptualisation of the Spanish public administration, together with his fidelity to the Crown, also paved the way for a spell in politics, and he was elected senator at the end of his life.

In the picture by Esquivel preserved at Banco de España, he appears in a jurisconsult’s gown, the cuffs of the sleeves adorned with trimmings, in allusion to his position as ministerial attorney. He wears the attire as it had last been normalised in 1814. In his hand, moreover, he holds one of the projects mentioned above, the “Project for the Code of Commerce and the Criminal Code”. He sports a number of decorations, among which is the medal of a knight of the Order of Charles III, whose insignia hangs as a cravate. This had been awarded to him on 2 November 1830, before Esquivel painted his portrait, but he also wears the sash and Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic, which he received in 1833, two years after Esquivel had signed the painting. However, he does not display the medal of a full member of the Royal Academy of History, which was his from 1848 onwards. It must be deduced from all this that the portrait was painted by Esquivel in the year which figures by his signature, and underwent a later intervention to add the distinction awarded in 1833, though this must have been before his induction to the Academy in 1848 owing to the absence of the characteristic member’s medal.

The painting preserves the soft and ductile quality of the flesh and hair that is characteristic of the painter’s finest work, thereby relieving the severity of the sitter’s stiff posture to concentrate the attention on his direct gaze.

Carlos González Navarro

This painting by Esquivel in the Banco de España Collection shows Pedro Sainz de Andino wearing the gown of a legal expert. The embroidered trim of his cuffs denotes his status as a public prosecutor. The attire was standardised as depicted here in 1814. He is also holding one of major achievements: the draft of the Commercial Code and the Criminal Code. He is bedecked with decorations, including the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Charles III, whose insignia is worn like a tie. He was decorated on 2 November 1830, before Esquivel painted him. He is also wearing the Sash and Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic, which he received in 1833, i.e. two years after Esquivel signed the portrait. However, the painting does not show the medal identifying him as a full member of the Royal Academy of History, which he became in 1848. It therefore follows that the portrait was painted by Esquivel on the date shown beside his signature, but he later added the important honour received in 1833. It must however date from before 1848, the year he was admitted to the Academy, as he is not wearing the full member’s medal.

• Julián Gállego Serrano
• María José Alonso