Artistic and Cultural History of PR

Artistic & Cultural History : 

Artistic & Cultural History Puerto Rico The of Reinaldo Lopez American Intercontinental University HUMA205 05-14-10

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Puerto Rico has 500 years of history and culture that has produced many works of fine art. In what is a culmination of this art history, one of the latest works is in the capitol San Juan. In a promenade of a historic colonial section named Paseo de la Princesa, with the Atlantic Ocean as its backdrop and a 16th Century Fort nearby, The Raices Fountain stands out. It is a collection of Bronze Statues made by Architect Miguel Carlo in 1992. It honors Puerto Rico’s mixed African, Spanish and Taino /Amerindian heritage (puertorico.com, 2010). This work is just a glimpse into how art evolved in Puerto Rico. History and Culture

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There are two artists that have the most recognition in Puerto Rico. The first major Puerto Rican artist with notoriety was José Campeche. Born and raised in 18th-century San Juan he drew inspiration from the city of his birth. He was the son of a freed slave and an immigrant from the Canary Islands and was influenced by a painter of the Spanish court who was banished to San Juan. He studied art with his Father who was also a painter. His fascination was religious paintings, and many of his 400 works were for churches. He was also a distinguished portrait painter, and his subjects were governors of the colony to local personalities to members of the rich and famous (welcometopuertorico.org). The young rider dressed formally and mounted side-saddle is a way that Campeche illustrated the ladies of his time appreciating horse riding. Campeche used a large landscape which is a feature he used in most of his portrait paintings. Using the background of the Puerto Rico of the day, It was his way of marking a place in history. He used a very strict format on this painting. But still used just the right colors and contrast to make sure the emphasis was on the rider. He also used great detail in the use of warm and cool colors which let the rider stand out. He also used his famous use of atmospheric perspective as well as detail in regards to the specific adornments on the young lady and the horse (Frank, P. 2009). Noted Artists Jose Campeche Title: Dama a Caballo (Lady on Horseback) 1785 Oil on wood panel

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Virgen de la Merced Oil on wood Jose Campeche Governor Don Ramón de Castro, 1800. Oil on canvas Jose Campeche Paintings by Jose Campeche While there are many paintings by Campeche, most of his paintings are exemplified in these two works. In both cases he demonstrated an academic way of painting while still telling a story. In the case of the Virgin of Mercy her charity in vying for the freeing of captives is brought out . Also noticeable are the solemn soft colors , reverent tones and illuminant shades convey religion. In the Governors painting he uses a strict academic artistry that follows the principles of design to an extreme. His regular use of Atmospheric Perspective is evident in his display of the up and coming city in the distance. The Governor seems to be pointing as if saying I am a part of the growth of Puerto Rico. This is an illustration of open form because he is reaching out to us the viewer (Frank, P. 2009).

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A Visual Artist Oller’s art ranges from realism to impressionism which he learned from his French teachers. He is best known for his still life and landscape paintings. He was born in San Juan, PR, in 1833. He studied in Madrid and Paris. In 1868 he founded his first Art School in San Juan. In 1889, he established a Young Ladies Art School. In 1898, he set up the Academy of Art and painting in San Juan. He also taught drawing in PR public schools. He was awarded several medals at art fairs and expositions . It was through his paintings that more people in the island became interested in bringing the Puerto Rican reality to its paintings. Be it through the landscape, its people or its customs. (puertoricopainter.com 2010). Francisco Oller is considered the Father of Puerto Rican Art. He was Puerto Rico’s most accomplished and beloved 19th-century painter. Francisco Oller 1874- “El Estudiante” Oil on Canvas “The Student”, is an example of Oller’s realism in art. In an almost Rockwell way he painted this piece with an exacting eye on detail and painted it by obeying strict rules of the principles of design as well as form and content. The balance, the lines, scale and proportion of items on the wall and the floor, and the realism of the colors are all used precisely. The daylight through the window reflects more on the women than the man showing the correct contrast. The mirror reflecting the other side of the room that we do not see., and the wall and floor all show linear perspective. All these elements are what make this painting not only real, but a true work of art (Frank, P. 2009).

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1894 "El Velorio“ Oil on Canvas Oller’s famous painting "The Wake", demonstrates his abilities in the art of combining colors. The painting shows different types of Puerto Ricans and represents an old custom from the old country-side in Puerto Rico called baquiné, or the wake of a child. In the wake the people sang, laughed and ate different sweets while the parents suffered their loss. Oller strayed from his usual form of impressionism to criticize the harsh realities of the island. He felt that it was a meaningless custom . He referred to this scene in the painting “The Wake” as “an orgy of brutal appetites under the gross veil of superstition.” (www.novelguide.com) Impressionist paintings involve visible brush strokes, open composition, emphasis on the qualities of changing light, ordinary subject matter, rhythm and repetition to insinuate movement and unusual visual angles (puertoricanpainter.com). With his usual form of detail as well as the use of perspective and contrast, Oller brings out the cultural cues of Puerto Rico with his brush. He wisely used all of the principles of design. He carefully placed items such as Plantains and vegetables hanging from the ceiling at an angle that suggests movement. He sized the various subjects and foods accurately thereby using proportion and scale. Linear Perspective was also used wisely with the walls and the doors. Atmospheric perspective was used as well with the tress outside as well as the Guitar player staring outside. The tablecloth used in Puerto Rico in those times were intricate pieces. His attention to detail was precise. He even used the correct proportion with it as well. The colors and the contrast he used were undeniable examples of the Puerto Rico that existed then (Frank, P. 2009). Oller’s Art

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Puerto Rico in Art 1912 "Mountain countryside of Guaraguao (Puerto Rico)“ Oil on wood panel Guaraguao is a mountainous rural barrio in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Many of Oller’s works were of the Landscape of Puerto Rico. In this piece he was able to represent the many features of the Puerto Rican countryside with great detail. He was able to bring forward the trees which make the distant mountains seem farther. He also used different shades of green to give the semblance of distance and proportion as well as perspective (Frank, P. 2009). The dropping slope of the land just past the trees is well suggested by using the right colors and proportion and scale. By balancing the different trees and landscape he was able to realistically show the land as it actually existed.

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As with many Caribbean islands, Puerto Rico has a strong artistic presence. Some artists are formally trained and others are Folk artists. The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture in the Dominican Convent in Old San Juan is the best source of information on the island about Puerto Rican arts and crafts (gotopuertorico.com) . Art In Puerto Rico Today

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Old San Juan has a dozen or so museums and even more art galleries. They house the 500 year history of Puerto Rico’s art as well as everything from pre-Columbian artifacts to paintings by contemporary artists. Another good place to see Puerto Rican art is the Museum of the University of Puerto Rico in Río Piedras. Because of space limitations, the museums galleries can exhibit only a fifth of their vast collection at one time. The greatest art on the island is at the Museo de Arte de Ponce where European, Mexican, Latin American and Puerto Rican artists are represented including José Campeche and Francisco Oller (www.puertorico.com/art-galleries ). Galleries in Puerto Rico

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References http://places.eyetour.com/whatToSee/san-juan/43/paseo-de-la-princesa-antigua-carcel-and-raices-fountain http://www.puertorico.com/blog/the-raices-fountain-of-old-san-juan www.puertorico.com/art-galleries  http://gopuertorico.about.com/od/oldsanjuan/ss/WalkingTour_8.htm http://welcome.topuertorico.org/culture/artsc.shtml http://www.puertoricanpainter.com/artist/campeche/campeche.htm http://www.puertoricanpainter.com/artist/oller/oller.htm http://www.publispain.com/biografias/biografias/Francisco_Oller.htm http://www.novelguide.com/a/discover/ewb_23/ewb_23_08261.html