Spanish matador noted for his daring and for his contribution to the literature of bullfighting.

Ortega came from a family of labourers and began bullfighting in 1928. He first appeared as a matador on March 8, 1931, and continued to fight for more than 20 years. He was one of Spain's most admired matadors, and his artistry and daring influenced most bullfighters who came after him. His El arte del toreo (1950; “The Art of Bullfighting”) extolled the virtues of his style of fighting: moving into the bull's path and leading it past the body in an arc, rather than in a straight line. He appeared with decreasing frequency after 1950 and retired in 1954.