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'Martín Tovar y Tovar' (February 10 1827 — December 17 1902) was one of the most important and high-profile Venezuelan painters of the 19th century. Tovar y Tovar's most famous work is his famous and well-known depiction of the Battle of Carabobo. Tovar y Tovar's other famous works are his portrayals of the Battle of Junín and the Battle of Ayacucho.

Contents

Early life

Rise to prominence

References

Early life

Born in Caracas, Tovar y Tovar first took art classes at the ''Escuela de Dibujo de Caracas'' (Caracas Drawing School), in 1850 he visited Spain for the purpose of studying at the prominent Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid. He also attended the School of Fine Arts in Paris, France between 1852 and 1855. After returning to Caracas and Venezuela, for the next five years, Tovar y Tovar taught drawing and worked on portrait studies. He later became director of Venezuela's Academy of Fine Arts.

Rise to prominence

Beginning in 1872, Tovar y Tovar featured prominently in numerous expositions and galleries in Venezuela, including the very first ''Exposición Anual de Bellas Artes'' held in Venezuela. Indeed, the Venezuelan president Antonio Guzmán Blanco himself tasked him with painting the many portraits of prominent Venezuelans that would be needed in a new gallery that would grace the Venezuelan capitol building. His works now feature on a large domed ceiling, as well as the Capitol's walls.

References

★ Martín Tovar y Tovar