Santiago Martínez Delgado

Infobox Artist
bgcolour = #EEDD82
name = Santiago Martínez Delgado

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imagesize = 200px
caption = Santiago Martínez Delgado in 1948
birthname = Santiago Martínez Delgado
birthdate = 1906
location = Bogotá,
COL
deathdate = 1954
deathplace = Hacienda El Molino, Colombia
nationality = Colombian
field = Painting
training = Chicago Academy of Fine Arts, Frank Lloyd Wright
movement = Art Deco, Muralist
works = Mural at the Colombian Capitol
patrons = Nelson Rockefeller
awards = Logan Medal of the arts, Salón de Artistas Colombianos

Santiago Martínez Delgado (1906 - 1954) was a Colombian painter, sculptor, art historian and writer. He established a reputation as a prominent 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. ["VanSickle papers" "The Papers of RVF at the Smithsonian Institute." Smithsonian Institute. Fall/Winter 1980, p. 239, 322, 344] In 1933, he was awarded the Logan Medal of the arts for his mural at the “Century of Progress” International Exhibition in Chicago. During these years in Chicago, he produced various illustrations for Esquire Magazine and participated in the Federal Art Project. ["He was outed for not being a US citizen along with Willen de Kooning" ] . Martínez was a disciple of Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin, where he began to experiment with the Art Deco style. ["Santiago Martinez Delgado el Humanista el Colombiano" "Seguros Bolivar"1974, p. 29,30]

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 age of 47.

Biography

Genealogy

Martinez's ancestry profoundly influenced his art choices and books. Born into an aristocratic family in Bogotá, his father was the Conservative party leader Luis Martinez 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.

Early years

Martinez began studying art by age 11 under the instruction of Colombian Master Roberto Pizano and following Andrés de Santa Maria at the Bogotá Fine Arts Academy.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 KooningFact|date=May 2008 and Edgar Kaufmann, Jr., among others. ["Leonor Concha SMD Collection" "Santiago Martinez Delgado Papers" SMD Collection. Pictures with Edward Hopper album 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] 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. Wright 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." ["Frank Lloyd Wright to Edgar Tafel" "Taliesin records" Chicago University J. D Bolston Press. Fall 1942, p. 29] 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. At the fair, 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 pioneering in the picturial Art Deco style. ["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 Painter to work in the Art Deco Style,] 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", which became the main outlet for cultural media at the time. It featured interviews of world-renowned artists like Joan Miró and writers like his longtime friend Gabriela Mistral. ["Nobel Records Columbia University, NY" "La Vida de Gabriela Mistral" Oveja Negra. Fall 1972, p. 84] 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. This discovery started a debate among Colombian scholars that is now referred to as "The dilemma of (La Madonna de Bogotá) ( _es. Lio de la Madona). 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. ["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] They all concurred with Master Martinez and confirmed its authenticity. The painting was included in the artist's catalog as the "Madonna of Bogotá." ["Catalog Raphael, Paris" "Museo Louvre" . – La Madona de Bogotá 1939, p. 322]

Golden years

In 1940, Martínez participated in the first Salón de Artistas Colombianos, where he won the Gold Medal for the oil on canvas "El que volvió"; the subsequent year, he won first prize for the oil on canvas "Interludio". ["Records Ministerio de Educación, Bogotá Colombia " "Salon Nacional de artistas 1940 al 2000" . – pp. 3, 4, 5, 6, 28] (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 Honorable Alberto Lleras Camargo, then-director of the OEA, and the Honorable Laureano Gomez, the Inter-American Conference organizer, to create the mural for the elliptic chamber of the National Congress Building. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,804410,00.html?iid=chix-sphere] 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, ["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] and was relieved that the capitol was spared from the fires during the Bogotazo. Martinez was given the Cruz de Boyacá award by President Mariano Ospina PerezMartinez 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. ["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]

Early death

In 1948, Martínez founded a commercial art studio. In 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, such as "El Virrey Solis", that broke all the ratings records for that year. Martínez also made plays, including "Estampas místicas de la tierra del Señor", "Juan Manuel el Gavilán" (unedited) and "El derecho de nacer".In 1953, he was commissioned by Nelson Rockefeller, to paint an oil on canvas of 8 x 4 meters (the largest Oil on Canvas in South America) for the Bank of New York in Bogotá, but he died before finishing it. It was placed on the bank, where it remains today as the largest oil on canvas in Colombia. Rockefeller, in a speech during the presentation of the painting to the public, called Martinez Delgado "the greatest Latin American artist of the decade". ["Catalogo Expocicion Postuma, Martinez Delgado, Santiago / 1974 / Bogotá -Colombia / Biblioteca Lian Angel Arango. / Por Joaquin Pineros Corpas y la Colombiana de Seguros" – p. 5 ] (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, produced 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 pavilion – 1933 General Electric Pavilion 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 media

* 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 by Martinez

*Title: Ensayo iconográfico del gran mariscal de AyacuchoAuthor: Santiago Martinez DelgadoEditorial:Bogotá : Ediciones de Santiago Martínez DelgadoYear: 1945
*Title: In memoriam Belisario Caicedo GonzálezAuthor: Santiago Martinez DelgadoEditorial: Cali : Carvajalyear: 19--
*Title: A. J. de SucreAuthor: Santiago Martinez DelgadoEditorial: Bogotá : Tip. PragYear: 1945
*Title: A propósito de don Gregorio Vásquez de Arce y CeballosAuthor: Santiago Martinez DelgadoEditorial: Bogotá VidaYear: 1941
*Title: El arte y la cienciaAuthor: Santiago Martinez DelgadoEditorial:Bogotá VidaYear: 1942
*Title: BolívarAuthor: Santiago Martinez DelgadoEditorial: Santiago Martinez Edicion numerada 100Year: 1944
*Title:Carlos Polanco : discípulo de ZurbaránAuthor: Santiago Martinez DelgadoEditorial:Bogotá VidaYear:1939
*Title:La casa colombiana : decoración de interioresAuthor: Santiago Martinez DelgadoEditorial:Bogotá SabadoYear: 1944
*Title:El crimen de BerruecosAuthor: Santiago Martinez DelgadoEditorial:Bogotá VidaYear: 1942
*Title:El tigreAuthor: Santiago Martinez DelgadoEditorial:Bogotá Vidayear:1936
*Title: Una reseña iconográfica del ejército y de las armas libertadorasAuthor: Santiago Martinez DelgadoEditorial: Bogotá Tipografía Pragayear: 1944

ee also

*Art Deco
*Frank Lloyd Wright
*Gabriela Mistral
*Congress of Colombia
*Colombian Art

Notes and References

Printed sources

*cite encyclopedia|title=Martinez, Delgado|encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia de arte de Colombia|date=1986
*cite journal|last=Pineros|first=Joaquin|title=Santiago Martinez Delgado el Humanista, | pages=1–70| url=http://www.villegaseditores.com

Online sources

* cite web
title = Santiago Martinez Delgado| work = Arte Colombia
first = Pablo
last = Gehr
url = http://santiagomartinezdelgado.com
accessdate = 2007-01-02

External links

* [http://www.santiagomartinezdelgado.com/ Online Gallery of Master Martinez]
* [http://www.askart.com/askart/artist.aspx?artist=11084111/ Askart Market ifo about artist]
* [http://www.lablaa.org/blaavirtual/todaslasartes/diccioart/diccioart16b.htm/ Info from Luis Angel Arango Library]
* [http://www.colarte.arts.co/colarte/conspintores.asp?idartista=514/ Website about Colombian Artists]

Persondata
NAME = Martinez Delgado, Santiago
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =Sanmardel, SMD
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Colombian Muralist, Painter and Illstrator
DATE OF BIRTH = 1906
PLACE OF BIRTH = Bogotá, Colombia
DATE OF DEATH = 1954
PLACE OF DEATH = Cajicá, Colombia