Spain To Protect Bullfighting On "Artistic" Grounds

Not so ridiculous as it might at first sound.

James Michener in his definitive book on Spain, Iberia, mentioned this linkage of bullfighting to art. In Spain, bullfighters aren't compared with sports figures, but with artists. Bulls were painted on the walls in the Altamira Caverns; Goya painted bullfight scenes, as did Picasso. American matador John Fulton, who lived in Seville during the time I was there (1980's) made part of his living painting bullfight scenes in bull's blood.

Bullfighting becomes more of an anachronism each year, and eventually it will be banned. But not yet, not in Spain.