A pair of 19th century Spanish terracotta figures of pilgrim minstrels, probably from Malaga and dating to circa 1860. The tradition of the esculturas en barro was a speciality of Málaga begun early in the eighteenth century, gaining wider recognition only after the English antiquarian Francis Carter praised the art in a book published on his return from a tour in 1772. Later, during the Romantic period, returning bourgeoisie tourists would bring back sculptures such as these as souvenirs of the place and its common and sometimes dangerous people. More common subjects could include the contrabandista (smuggler), the bailaor (dancer), the campesino (peasant), the torero (bullfighter), and the muletero (muleteer). Rarely seen on public display in the UK, or anywhere else for that matter, the National Trust’s collection at Tyntesfield currently holds three figures by José Cubero Gabardón. Item code: 5818