Rafael Molina Sánchez
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Rafael Molina Sánchez (November 27, 1841 – August 1, 1900), called Lagartijo (lizard), was a Spanish bullfighter.
Early life
[edit]Rafael Molina was born in Córdoba on November 27, 1841.[1]
Career
[edit]On September 29, 1865, Lagartijo became a full bullfighter (he took the alternativa) at Úbeda. His sponsor (padrino) was Antonio Carmona y Luque, called El Gordito; Lagartijo killed Carabuco, a bull from the ranch (ganadería) owned by the Marchioness of Ontiveros.
During his career he was seriously gored seven times.[citation needed]
In 1887, Lagartijo presented his sword at the alternativa of Rafael Guerra Bejarano, marking Guerra's elevation from an apprentice to a professional matador. A Spanish hand fan commemorating the occasion survives in the collection of the Staten Island Historical Society at Historic Richmond Town in New York.[2]
Lagartijo retired from bullfighting in 1893.
Death
[edit]Rafael Molina died on August 1, 1900, in Córdoba.
Notes
[edit]- ^ "Fan, 1887". Online Collections Database. Staten Island Historical Society. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
- ^ "Fan, 1887". Online Collections Database. Staten Island Historical Society. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
External links
[edit]- http://www.portaltaurino.com/matadores/lagartijo.htm
- https://web.archive.org/web/20060422101839/http://www.legadoandalusi.com/legado/contenido/rutas/personajes/8549.htm
- Depiction of "Lagartijo" on a fan in the Staten Island Historical Society Online Collections Database