Adiós Antoñete, the poor boy who became doyen of bullfighters

Antonio Chenel, advertised as "Antoñete" on the posters, died on Saturday at age 79 from respiratory problems. The bullfighter, who was well beloved by Madrid fans, is receiving a last farewell at Las Ventas ring, where a plaque now reads: "This was his home, this is his ring." At 4pm on Monday, the matador's body will be taken to the capital's La Almudena cemetery for burial.

The son of a picador's assistant and brother-in-law to the ring mayoral (who leads rejected bulls back to the enclosure), Antoñete always wanted to be a bullfighter the old-fashioned way, just like his admired Manolete, whom he met as a child.

His style, his classicism and his determination to overcome all obstacles, including the grinding poverty of his youth, will remain in fans' memories. He never cared much for fame, glory or his bank account - Master Chenel was only interested in using his silken wrist to dominate the bull that faced him, and he always stood out for his profound knowledge of the animals he was fighting.

Other bullfighters like César Rincón and Curro Vázquez were quick to understand that Antoñete's style was eternal; that giving the bull all the advantages makes the national fiesta more noble and brings aficionados to their feet. Upon learning of his death, Vázquez burst out crying and was barely able to articulate: "He was like my father, like a brother to me. He was my master and my role model."

After being in apprenticeship between 1949 and 1952, he graduated to full-fledged matador in March 1953. Since then, his career included seven puertas grandes - being carried aloft out the main door, a rare sign of supreme approval - in the world's most important ring, Las Ventas. The last one was on his 66th birthday.

His physical frailty led to more bone fractures than tossings in the ring. "What do you want?" he once said. "I never tasted milk until I was 14."