The main objective of the Stage of “Banderillas” is to revive the bull
without reducing its strength in order to prepare it for the next stage: The
Stage of Muleta (Suerte de Muleta).
Three bullfighters’ assistants or sometimes the bullfighter him or herself
jab the bull’s back with three pairs of “Banderillas”. The bull feels a
sharp pain when the “Banderillas” have pierced its back.
The Suerte del Cuarteo is one of the oldest way to jab the bull with the banderillas. The bullfighter faces the bull and moves describing a semicircle getting the bull to move towards him. The bullfighter Pepe-Hillo, main carácter of many Goya’s engravings, described the Banderillas al Cuarteo:
“El diestro se colocará a una distancia proporcionada, ya se halle el toro parado, ya venga levantado, y llamándole partirá de sesgo para encontrarse con el toro, el cual tomará necesariamente el mismo giro en busca del torero. Luego que éste se haya reunido con aquél en el centro de la suerte, se quedará para meterle las banderillas en el cerviguillo en el mismo acto que baje la cabeza para dar la embestida”
However this is not the only way to jab the bull. Sometimes the bullfighter does not move and wait the charge of the bull. Examples of this technique are the “Topacarnero” and the “Quiebro”.
Banderillas Al Cuarteo
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