OR I’LL DRESS YOU IN MOURNING

Back to our Seville holiday album for a final three shots to end the series. This is the second.

The Seville Bullring has its own heroes and a museum to show their and other bullfighters’ memoires. In this triptych I have selected two shots of the bullfighter’s costumes to flank the most poignant picture of all those I took at the museum. This is the small chapel where the bullfighter kneels in solitude prayer to the Holy Virgin Mary for her protection before he goes out to meet the bull. It was dark and sombre inside and a gate at the entrance did not allow visitors to go inside - you can see the shadows of the iron gate on the wall. I would have liked to take a better picture.

Bullfighting has been of interest to me since I read the story of ‘”El Cordobes’” a matador from Cordoba that I bought more than 5 decades ago and which I still cherish. The book is titled “Or I’ll Dress You in Mourning” – hence the title I gave to this picture. I got to talk to our guide at the bullring and queried about his career and what has happened to him since then. She made me very happy when she told me he is still alive at over 80 years of age and that he was one of the bullfighters who made a name for themselves. You can read more about him here https://www.britannica.com/biography/El-Cordobes.


Thank you so much for all your views, comments and fav's on yesterday's picture. Much appreciated.

[Dawn]

Lovely coloured outfits and collage , not sure I’d enjoy attending a bull fight myself

[Babs]

Love the outfits although I don't think I would want to watch a bullfight. I think I would feel too sorry for the bull.

[Ivan]

Beautiful costumes and I remember the matador.

[Beryl Lloyd]

A lovely triptych of the outfits - but bull fighting is a no-no for me !

[Kerri]

Awesome shots

[gloria jones]

Great collage of colorful, detailed shots :)

[Diana]

A fabulous collage and great shot of the memoirs. I certainly could never ever watch a bull fight.

[Claude Trew]

Very interesting collage and very colourful.

[Joyce]

Great collage and such interesting information

[carol white]

An interesting triptych. I remember El Cordobes, but definitely not a fan of bullfighting

[Chris H]

Such beautiful costumes, but I wouldn't want to watch a bullfight it so cruel.

[Rob Z]

A very interesting photo - and very interesting info. Thanks so much.

[Pyrrhula]

Great pic.`s of a world and life that`s far from us. Do n`t like bull fights although they fascinates me. Like it did with Picaso. I`ve once try to see a fight with him in Palma de Majorca (53 years ago) but for some reason I do n`t remember I did n`t.

[Pyrrhula]

(I think it`s the same butterfly too.)

[KWind]

Such elaborate pieces. Great shots.

[Richard Hickey]

Cool collage.

[Ann H. LeFevre]

The costumes and general lifestyle of the bull fighters seemed so opulent but the dark side was all the blood and torture. It was a terrifying spectator sport for both the bull and the bull fighter. But I guess the glory pushed them to go for it. Well done on the collage.

[Sue Cooper]

Such beautiful and elaborate costumes but such a shame the association with bull fighting.

[Margo]

great outfits

[Suzanne]

Wonderful costumes

[william wooderson]

All very fine, though not a sport I approve of!!

[Jane Morley]

We've been here, it's amazing isn't it. I spent 7 years in Gibraltar as a child and remember Cordobes being a hero. I always wished, even then that we could have the amazing spectacle without harming the bull.