'Lagartijo'

A pencilled inscription verso in a period hand identifies the matador as 'Rafael Molina / Lagartijo'.

Rafael Molina Sánchez (1841-1900), known professionally as ‘Lagartijo’ [lizard], was the son of ‘Niño de Dios’ and the nephew of ‘El Poleo’. His sponsor [padrino] was ‘El Gordito.'

Born in Córdoba on 27 November 1841, his first fight was in 1851, when he was nine years old. He became a full bullfighter in 1865. During his career he took part in 1632 bullfights and killed 4867 bulls. He was seriously gored seven times.

He died at Córdoba on 1 August 1900.

Photographed by J. Laurent of Madrid.