A banker of Spanish origin settled in Paris, Alexandre Aguado lent a hundred million to the Spanish Crown, one of the biggest financial operations of the Restoration. Fortune made, he became a patron: he financed Rossini, who was then living in Paris, and gathered close to five hundred paintings, most of them from the Spanish Golden Age. Made Marquis de Las Marismas, he died in Gijón in 1842.
The story
A Spanish officer who came over to France, Alexandre Aguado settled in Paris and became a banker there. His great operation: a loan of a hundred million francs to the Spanish Crown — one of the largest financial deals of the Restoration, the France of the restored Bourbons, and one that made him a fortune and a name on both sides of the Pyrenees.
With the fortune came patronage and taste: he backed Rossini, then living in Paris, and gathered close to five hundred paintings, most of them from the Spanish Golden Age. Marquis de Las Marismas del Guadalquivir, he died at Gijón on 14 April 1842.
His grave in Division 45, avenue Transversale no. 1, gives his full title and his two cities — Seville where he was born, Gijón where he died. It settles in passing a date the reference books argued over: 28 June 1785.
The grave
An inscription that unrolls the full title and both ends of the life: “Alexandre Marie AGUADO Marquis de Las Marismas del Guadalquivir, born in Seville on 28 June 1785, died in Gijon on 12 April 1842.” The engraver was two days out: Aguado died on 14 April. Lower down, a Spanish plaque, set there in 1962 by a women's association from Mendoza, in Argentina, thanks the friend and benefactor of José de San Martín, the general who wrested South America from Spain. Neither the bank, nor the hundred million lent to the Spanish Crown, nor Rossini, nor the five hundred paintings.
On site, do not miss
The inscription gives the full title — “Marquis de Las Marismas del Guadalquivir” — and two Spanish cities: Seville, place of birth, and Gijón, place of death. Neither the bank, nor Rossini.
Visitors' questions
Where is Alexandre Aguado's grave?
In Division 45, Avenue Transversale No. 1, first row. The inscription gives his full title, “marquis de Las Marismas del Guadalquivir”, along with his places and dates — Seville in 1785, Gijón in 1842.
Gilbert BécaudWhat did he lend to Spain?
A hundred million francs, to the Spanish Crown — one of the biggest financial operations of the Restoration. A Spanish officer who had gone over to France, he had become a banker in Paris. He died at Gijón on 14 April 1842.
James de RothschildDid he bankroll Rossini?
He did: the banker financed Rossini, then living in Paris. He was also a great collector of close to five hundred paintings from the Spanish Golden Age — patronage went hand in hand with fortune. He died at Gijón on 14 April 1842.
Gioachino RossiniAre the carved dates right?
One of the two. Alexandre Aguado was indeed born in Seville on 28 June 1785, as his inscription carves it. On his death, though, the stone is wrong: it gives 12 April 1842, and he died on the 14th.
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