Articles
14.04.2023
Know your twin-to-be city: Michelena, an artist from Valencia
Francisco Arturo Michelena Castillo was born in Valencia (state of Carabobo, Venezuela) on June 16, 1863 to the family of a professional painter. As a result, Michelena's father became also his first teacher, and already in 1879 they would together open an art school in their hometown.
The painter's personal career path began, as we would say now, with commercial illustrations. The first of his works to become widely known were the ink sketches destined for cigars boxes, as well as portraits and landscapes used as decorations at a local hotel.
In the world of academic art, Michelena gained recognition in 1883 after the National Exhibition dedicated to Simon Bolivar's 100th anniversary. For such an occasion, the young artist presented two major works – an allegorical image of the Revived Republic and a battle-themed canvas. These entries, in a way, predestined his glorious future as that of the painter of religious allegories, historical events or persons. For a start, though, the oeuvres brought him a scholarship at a Paris Academy.
Consequently, it was in France that Michelena spent most of his time between 1885 and 1893. During that period, he became the first foreigner to be awarded a golden medal at an art exhibition, drew paintings to the theme of the French Revolution and illustrated the plays by Victor Hugo.
Since 1890, Michelena's fame drew to him the attention of his native country's government. As a result, he was commissioned to create a painting to be given as an official gift to the city of New York, and, subsequently, invited to make a series of plaques for the palace that would henceforth be known as the Republic's Presidential residence. Ordinary customers, too, flocked to Michelena upon his return to Venezuela, bringing him fame and success as a fashion portraitist.
Just a year before Michelena's death, he created his most famous oeuvre (except, maybe, for the "Sick Child") – a portrait of the revolutionary hero Francisco de Miranda, who had been imprisoned for life in a Spanish fort dungeon for participating in the national liberation movement. Even in captivity, against a molded wall and an old straw mattress, the portrait's protagonist looks unbroken and determined.
The painter gravitated towards romanticism and, sadly, perished from one of the most romanticized diseases – the notorious tuberculosis. Art historians say that in the last months of his life he worked from bed, tying his brushes to long sticks, and fainted – never to wake up again – in the middle of a painting session.