Santiago Martínez Delgado
Santiago Martínez Delgado | |
|---|---|
| File:Picture Santiago Martinez Delgado.jpg Santiago Martínez Delgado in 1948 | |
| Born | Santiago Martínez Delgado |
| Nationality | Colombian |
| Education | Chicago Academy of Fine Arts, Frank Lloyd Wright |
| Known for | Painting |
| Movement | Art Deco, Muralist |
| Awards | Logan Medal of the arts, Salón de Artistas Colombianos |
| Patron(s) | Nelson Rockefeller |
Santiago Martínez Delgado (1906 - 1954) was a Colombian painter, sculptor, art historian and writer. He established a reputation as the most prominent Colombian muralist during the 1940s and is also known for his watercolors, oil paintings, illustrations and woodcarvings.
Martínez attended the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts under the tutelage of Ruth VanSickle Ford.[1] In 1933, he was awarded the Logan Medal of the arts for his mural at the Chicago International Fair “Century of Progress”. During these years in Chicago, he produced various illustrations for Esquire Magazine and participated in the Federal Art Project. Martínez was a disciple of Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin where he began to experiment with the Art Deco style.[2]
In Colombia, Martínez was awarded the gold medal in the 1940 Salón de Artistas Colombianos, and was again awarded the top prize in 1941. In 1947, Martinez Delgado painted the mural at the Salón Elíptico, in the Colombian Congress Building, considered one of the greatest murals of the XX Century, Martínez was then awarded La Orden De Boyaca (Colombia’s highest government honor). Martinez was at the top of the Latin-American fine-arts scene when he died at the early age of 47.
Biography
Genealogy
Martinez ancestry profoundly influenced his art choices and books. Born into an aristocratic family in Bogotá, his father was the Conservative party leader Luis Martinez Silva and his mother Mercedes Delgado Mallarino. It was a difficult childhood due to his father's expulsion from Colombia as a result of an indictment for his involvement in an earlier Coup d'état. [3] Martinez's uncle, Carlos Martinez Silva, [4] stepped in to assist in raising the family. An avid politician and writer, the Martinez Silva's were the sons of Rito Antonio Martinez[5], a founding member of the Colombian Supreme Court[6] and was educated by his uncle the bishop of Santa Marta Jose Maria Estevez,"[7] to whom Simon Bolivar confessed when being delivered last rights on his death bead. Rito married Conception Silva, a first cousin of Jose Asuncion Silva, of whom Martinez Delgado would write a book.[8] Martinez's mother, Mercedes, inspired Santiago to pursue a career in the arts. An avid artist herself, her work can be found at the Museum of la Pola in Guaduas, Colombia. Her education began under the patronage of her grandfather the Colombian ex-president Manuel Maria Mallarino and his grandmother Maria Mercedes Cabal, also known as the "Maria" of Jorge Isaacs.
Early years
Martinez began studying art by age 11, at the Bogotá Fine Arts Academy, under the instruction of Colombian Master Roberto Pizano. In 1925 he moved to Cartagena, where at the age of 18 he directed and illustrated some sections for the newspaper "La Patria" under the pseudonym of "Sanmardel".
Chicago and Taliesin
Soon after, in 1926, Martínez traveled to Chicago where he studied and worked for over five years at the Fine Arts Institute of Chicago, under the tutoring of Ruth VanSickle Ford. In Chicago, Martínez befriended and worked alongside Edward Hopper, Isamu Noguchi, Willem de Kooning and Edgar Kaufmann, Jr. among others.[9] From 1932 to 1935, Martinez spent time on and off as a fellow at Taliesin, where he was inspired and influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright; who commissioned Martinez to make stained glass windows, wood carvings and some pictorial works. Wright was quoted: "Young Santiago’s brush lines are elegant and his attitude gracious."[10] In 1929, Martínez was awarded first prize, for the "Best advertisement illustration" by the US Federation of Commercial Artists, shortly after; he won the Logan medal for the arts, for his mural: "Colombian evolution" at the 1933 Chicago International World Fair and exposition, where Martínez also assisted with the Murals at the General Motors Exhibit, as Diego Rivera's commission was cancelled due to the Lenin controversy in New York.
Back in Colombia
Martínez returned to Colombia in 1934 with an innovative line and pioneering in the picturial Art Deco style.[11] This modernistic line was the first in the country and lead the way for the cubist art revolution aimed by Guillermo Widermann and Alejandro Obregón years later. In 1936, Martínez founded the Art school and decoration at the Universidad Javeriana Femenina. From 1937 to 1940, he directed and illustrated the magazine "Revista Vida", that became the main outlet for cultural media at the time, with interviews of world-renowned artists like Joan Miró and writers like his longtime friend Gabriela Mistral.[12] He also made various Illustrations for the America, Anarkos, Cromos and PAN Magazines.
Madonna dilemma
Martinez, who was an avid historian and protector of the Colombian artistic heritage, discovered a painting by Raphael de Urbino. The finding of the painting started a debate among Colombian scholars called today "The dilemma of (La Madonna de Bogotá) (Template:Lang-es). Martinez Delgado managed to prove the provenance of the piece along with its authenticity, with the use of X rays and detailed forensic work. In 1939, he took the painting to New York City during the 1939 World’s Fair, where experts from the Metropolitan Museum, the Chicago Art Institute and the Louvre examined the painting. Among the experts were: Daniel Catton, Rich A. Sweet, Ruber H. Clark, Leo A. Marzolo, Adolfo Venturiy and Wilhelm Valentiner.[13] They all concurred with Master Martinez and confirmed its authenticity. The painting was included in the artist's catalog as the "Madonna of Bogotá.[14]
Golden years
In 1940, Martínez participated in the first Salón de Artistas Colombianos where he won the Gold Medal with the oil on canvas "El que volvió"; the subsequent year he won first prize with the oil on canvas "Interludio".[15] (Today at the Colombian National Museum.) In 1943, Martínez made his first major mural in Colombia at the school Presentación of Chapinero. In 1945, started work on the Cúcuta Cathedral stations, as well as the murals and carvings at the city's government building. That year Martínez also illustrated the biography of Sucre realized by Carlos Arturo Caparroso (Editorial Horizontes, Bogotá), and was designated as a Member of the Historic Academy of Bogotá. In 1947, Martinez was commissioned by the then director of the OEA, Honorable Alberto Lleras Camargo, and the Inter-American Conference organizer, the Honorable Laureano Gomez, to create the mural for the Elliptic chamber of the National Congress Building.[7] He finished the fresco in time for the Inter American conference. General George Marshall of the US called the piece a wonder of contemporary art,[16] and was relief that the capitol was spared from the fires during the Bogotazo. Martinez was given the Cruz de Boyacá award, by President Mariano Ospina Perez Martinez also became the premier historian on Simon Bolivar and his army during the 1940s and 1950s, his (limited edition Iconography on Bolivar) is considered the most accurate work on the image and resalable of Simon Bolivar.[17]
An early death
In 1948, Martínez founded a commercial art studio. The following years he made various well-recognized brand logos, illustrations, history books, and over 30 majestic murals in addition to many of his best known paintings. During this period, he wrote and directed the dramatization of radio scripts, like: "El Virrey Solis", that broke all the ratings records for that year, also made plays like "Estampas místicas de la tierra del Señor"; "Juan Manuel el Gavilán" (unedited) and "El derecho de nacer" among others. In 1953, he was commissioned by Nelson Rockefeller, to paint an oil on canvas of 8 x 4 meters (Largest Oil on Canvas in South America) for the Bank of New York in Bogotá, but died before finishing it. It was placed on the Bank where it remains today as the largest oil on canvas in Colombia. Nelson Rockefeller, in a speech during the presentation of the painting to the public, called Martinez Delgado: "the greatest Latin American artist of the decade".[18] (Today the building is the Interior Ministry Building and City Bank donated the painting to the Colombian Government.) Master Martinez died on January 12, in the hacienda "El Molino", of a stroke. On August 3 of the same year the National Museum, with the collaboration of the Education Ministry, organized an exposition in his honor.
Listing of selected works
Martinez produced over 100 paintings in his career, in addition to murals, producing illustrations for books, lithographs, a great number of drawings, dozens of sculptures, and various other projects, including a large number of books and published articles before passing at the age of 47. The list below has some of his most significant works.
Murals
- A century of Colombian evolution – 1933 3rd Pavilion Chicago World Fair - Chicago.
- Columns GE pavillion – 1933 General Electric Pavillion Chicago World Fair - Chicago.
- Bolivar and Santander in the Cucuta Congress – Elliptic Room of the National Congress - Bogotá.
- Fresco at the roof of the San Carlos Palace – Old presidential home, current foreign ministry - Bogotá.
- Fresco of Bavaria Building - Hall of the lobby old Bavaria Building - Bogotá.
- Building Caja Colombiana de Ahorros - Banco Santander - Bogotá.
- Cid Campeador – Cid Theater - Bogotá.
- El hombre - Theater Colombia - Bogotá.
- Room Hotel Granada (Missing)- Bogotá.
- Windmills of Quixote – Walls of café El Molino - Bogotá.
- Rooms Club Campestre - Club Campestre de Medellin - Medellín.
- El Trabajador - Banco Comercial Antioqueño - Medellín.
- Sin Titulo - Banco de Colombia - Medellín.
- Los Proceres - Banco de Colombia - Cúcuta
- Episodes of Santander’s Life – National Palace of Cúcuta - Cúcuta.
- Madono of el Molino - Hacienda el Molino - Madrid, Colombia
Sculpture
- Rock face at the front of the National Palace in Cúcuta - Cucuta
- The Carving Collection made at Taliesin - Private Collection - USA
- The head of John the Baptist - National Museum - Bogotá
- Carvings at the Polytechnic School - Bogotá
Paintings various medias
- Bolívar (Charcoal) - Private Collection
- Mío Cristo del Monte - Private Collection
- The stories of Grim - Private Collection
- An Afternoon at the Hacienda - Private Collection
- Conchita Cintrón - Private Collection
- Head of Girl - Private Collection
- Illustrations for Vida - over 300 - ?
- Door Church of San Francisco - ?
Oil on Canvas
- Interludio - Museo Nacional - Bogota
- El que volvio - Private Collection
- Retrato de José María Cordovez Moure - Acadeima de Historia - Bogota
- Gold Diggers - Private Collection
- Don Quixote de la Mancha - Private Collection
- The rice of Jesus in the Cross - Cucuta Cathedral - Cucuta
- Jesus meets with the Virgin Mery - Cucuta Cathedral - Cucuta
- Jesus and Pilates - Cucuta Cathedral - Cucuta
- Agony of Jesus - Cucuta Cathedral - Cucuta
- Jesus carrying the Cross - Cucuta Cathedral - Cucuta
- Natural resources of Colombia - Interior Ministry Building - Bogota
Watercolors
- Luisita Kling Fernández - Private Collection
- Amanecida - Private Collection
- Castle of San Felipe of Barajas - Private Collection
- Afternoon in La Mancha - Private Collection
- El Picador - Private Collection
- Potranca - Private Collection
- María Cecilia Aparicio Concha - Private Collection
- Interior - Private Collection
- Notes of Cartagena - Gun Club - Bogota
- Walls of Cartagena - Gun Club Bogota
- Quixote - Private Collection
- Sancho Panza - Private Collection
- Sketch for the fresco of the Salón Elíptico - Private Collection
- Flight of the Ducks - Private Collection
- Head of Quixote - Private Collection
- Thinking Girl - Private Collection
- Hunting Trophy - Private Collection
- Sad Girl - Private Collection
- Head of Jesus - Private Collection
- Marina - Private Collection
- Procession - Private Collection
- Construction - Private Collection
- Mariscal Suere - Private Collection
- Home of Virrey Sámano - Private Collection
- Callejas of Santafé - Private Collection
- Cultural dresses of Colombia, Ecuador, Perú y Brasil - Private Collection
- Antonio José de Sucre, Mariscal de Ayacucho - Private Collection
- Bullfighters - Private Collection
- Sketch of the Fresco Molino Chapel in Cajicá - Private Collection
- The Te Flower - Private Collection
List of books written or by Martinez
- Title: Ensayo iconográfico del gran mariscal de Ayacucho
Author: Santiago Martinez Delgado Editorial:Bogotá : Ediciones de Santiago Martínez Delgado Year: 1945
- Title: In memoriam Belisario Caicedo González
Author: Santiago Martinez Delgado Editorial: Cali : Carvajal year: 19--
- Title: A. J. de Sucre
Author: Santiago Martinez Delgado Editorial: Bogotá : Tip. Prag Year: 1945
- Title: A propósito de don Gregorio Vásquez de Arce y Ceballos
Author: Santiago Martinez Delgado Editorial: Bogotá Vida Year: 1941
- Title: El arte y la ciencia
Author: Santiago Martinez Delgado Editorial:Bogotá Vida Year: 1942
- Title: Bolívar
Author: Santiago Martinez Delgado Editorial: Santiago Martinez Edicion numerada 100 Year: 1944
- Title:Carlos Polanco : discípulo de Zurbarán
Author: Santiago Martinez Delgado Editorial:Bogotá Vida Year:1939
- Title:La casa colombiana : decoración de interiores
Author: Santiago Martinez Delgado Editorial:Bogotá Sabado Year: 1944
- Title:El crimen de Berruecos
Author: Santiago Martinez Delgado Editorial:Bogotá Vida Year: 1942
- Title:El tigre
Author: Santiago Martinez Delgado Editorial:Bogotá Vida year:1936
- Title: Una reseña iconográfica del ejército y de las armas libertadoras
Author: Santiago Martinez Delgado Editorial: Bogotá Tipografía Praga year: 1944
See also
Notes and References
- ^ "VanSickle papers" The Papers of RVF at the Smithsonian Institute. Smithsonian Institute. Fall/Winter 1980, p. 239, 322, 344
- ^ "Santiago Martinez Delgado el Humanista el Colombiano" Seguros Bolivar1974, p. 29,30
- ^ "[1]" Revista Credencial Bogota Colombia. Fall 1984, p. 23
- ^ "[2]" Biblioteca Luis Angel Arango Bogota Colombia. 19?
- ^ ",[3] " Rueda Family archives Bogota Colombia. 19?
- ^ "[4] " Justice Ministry of Colombia Bogota Colombia. 1988
- ^ ",[5] " Sice editorial Bucaramanga Colombia. 2002
- ^ " [6]). " Bogota, Colombia. 194?
- ^ "Leonor Concha SMD Collection" Santiago Martinez Delgado Papers SMD Collection. Pictures with Edward Hopper albun 3 p. 4 -Picture with Edgar Kaufmann at taliesin Album 4 p. 11,12,14 - Pictures with Frank Lloyd Wright album 4 p. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9,11- Picture with Isamu Noguchi and Diego Rivera album 5 p. 4 - Picture with Kooning album 7 P. 3,4 + letter regarding retirement from federal art project letter folio 24 # 4
- ^ "Frank Lloyd Wright to Edgar Tafel" Taliesin records Chicago University J. D Bolston Press. Fall 1942, p. 29
- ^ "Painting La Reinas" Strong Art Deco Style painted in Bogota 1934 that was presided by other Art Deco style painting made from 1929 to 1933 in the US Therefore becoming the 1st Colombian Paiter to work in the Art Deco Style and or Modern style
- ^ "Nobel Records Columbia University, NY" La Vida de Gabriela Mistral Oveja Negra. Fall 1972, p. 84
- ^ "Wilhelm Valentiner, Hamburg Germany" The 1939 notes on the Fair and work at the Metropolitan – Retrospective 1958. – The lost Raphael, pp. 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53
- ^ "Catalog Raphael, Paris" Museo Louvre . – La Madona de Bogotá 1939, p. 322
- ^ "Records Ministerio de Educación, Bogotá Colombia " Salon Nacional de artistas 1940 al 2000 . – pp. 3, 4, 5, 6, 28
- ^ "George C. Marshall Foundation Library " 1948 Inter American Conference – Visit Capitol Bogotá Remarks – 3 day LUNCH AT ARTIST HOME WITH LAUREANO GOMEZ. – p. 9, 10, 11
- ^ "Records Academia de Historia de Colombia " Miamibro Santiago Martinez Delgado – Bolivar – Nadie a estudiado y conose del Libertador Simon Bolivar como Santiago Martinez Delgado . – Doc. A34, c1 ,c2 ,c3, B12
- ^ "Catalogo Expocicion Postuma, Martinez Delgado, Santiago / 1974 / Bogotá -Colombia / Biblioteca Lian Angel Arango. / Por Joaquin Pineros Corpas y la Colombiana de Seguros" – p. 5
Printed sources
- "Martinez, Delgado". Encyclopaedia de arte de Colombia. 1986.
- Pineros, Joaquin. "Santiago Martinez Delgado el Humanista,": 1–70.
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Online sources
- Gehr, Pablo. "Santiago Martinez Delgado- From the Author of this article - About Martinez Delgado and his Work". Arte Colombia. Retrieved 2007-01-02.
External links
