José Delgado Guerra (1754 - 1801)

José Delgado Guerra

José Delgado Guerra was a legendary Spanish matador.

José Delgado Guerra, known as Pepe Hill, was one of the most prominent bullfighters in Spain, immortalized by Francesco Goya in a series of bullfighting scenes published as La Tauromaquia (1801). Guerra introduced new and improved rules for bullfighting. In 1796 he published his Treatise on Bullfighting, essential to understanding the evolution of the fiesta from that time to the present day.

A second edition was published posthumously, after May 11, 1801. Delgado Guerra was killed in the ring by a bull. This edition has been greatly expanded and 30 illustrations have been added by the artist Ascenio Julia (c. 1760-1832), a pupil of Francesco Goya. These illustrations provide factual information on the various roles and equipment needed for the revived "national fiesta."