Montes now comes into prominence among the famous _toreros_ of Andalusia. Francisco Montes fought for the first time at Madrid in 1832. He attracted the notice of Candido, of the academy of bull-fighters at Seville, and he was accepted as a pupil and granted a pension of six _reales_ per day. Montes introduced the modern style in the art of the _torero_. He wrote a treatise on bull-fighting, entitled: _El arte de torear á pie y á caballo_. 'Considered to be the _torero's_ very bible for the infallible wisdom of its precepts.'
The _matador_ of to-day is the idol of the populace; but he is not so honoured by persons of noble birth as in the earlier times of bull-fighting. Luis Mazzantini is perhaps the greatest living _torero_. Guerrita has retired. Antonio Fuentes and Reverte are accomplished bull-fighters. Montes died of injuries received in the ring, in the year 1850, at the age of forty-six.
To show the favour formerly extended to the _torero_, we may quote the story of Lavi and Queen Isabel II. Lavi was a Romany by birth, and a bold _matador_ of his day. During a royal _corrida_, the gipsy pluckily tore out the _moña_, or bunch of ribbons in the bull's neck, and advanced towards the Queen. 'Here,' he cried, 'this is the first _moña_ your majesty has had the honour of receiving at my hands!'
The retinue of the _matador_ consists of the _picadores_, or mounted spearmen, the _banderilleros_, or dart throwers, and the _monos sabios_, who repair the damages to the wretched horses and thrash them to their feet. The _matador_ is clad in silk and gold, with a spangled cloak, which he wears in the parade of the fighters previous to the display. It is stated by one writer that a bull fight in Seville cost from £1100 to £1200. The value of each bull killed is about £70. The _matador's_ fee is from £120 to £200; but this includes the fees paid by him to his _cuadrilla_, or troupe. The horses are valued at from £120 to £200, according to the number killed by the bull. The cost of the seats is from a _peseta_ to three _duros_. Guerrita could 'command all over Spain and in the South of France almost any remuneration.' The _banderilleros_ receive about fifty dollars, and the _picadores_ something less than that for their share in the performance.