Sunday, May 19, 2013

New painting: March Of Heroes


March of Heroes
72" x 60"
oil on Canvas
2013

 
March of Heroes


This painting is about the formation of what to many at the time was the promise land, “America.” Which includes North, South and Central America.
Standing in the middle, riding his white horse is Simon Bolivar(The Liberator) .
Bolívar played a key role in Latin America's successful struggle for independence from the Spanish Empire, and is today considered one of the most influential politicians in the history of the Americas. Bolívar participated in the foundation of the first union of independent nations in Hispanic-America, a republic, known as Gran Colombia, of which he was president from 1819 to 1830. Bolívar remains regarded in Hispanic-America as a hero, visionary, revolutionist, and liberator. During his lifetime, he led Venezuela, Colombia (including Panama at the time), Ecuador, Peru (together with Don José de San Martín), and Bolivia to independence, and helped lay the foundations for democratic ideology in much of Latin America.

On the left, is Toussaint Louverture. He was the leader of the Haitian Revolution. His military genius and political acumen led to the establishment of the independent black state of Haiti, transforming an entire society of slaves into a free, self-governing people. The success of the Haitian Revolution shook the institution of slavery throughout the New World.

Toussaint Louverture began his military career as a leader of the 1791 slave rebellion in the French colony of Saint Domingue. Initially allied with the Spaniards of neighboring Santo Domingo, Toussaint switched allegiance to the French when they abolished slavery. He gradually established control over the whole island, expelled British invaders and used political and military tactics to gain dominance over his rivals. Throughout his years in power, he worked to improve the economy and security of Saint Domingue. He restored the plantation system using paid labour, negotiated trade treaties with Britain and the United States and maintained a large and well-disciplined army.

In 1801 he promulgated an autonomist constitution for the colony, with himself as governor for life. In 1802 he was forced to resign by forces sent by Napoleon Bonaparte to restore French authority in the former colony. He was deported to France, where he died in 1803. The Haitian Revolution continued under his lieutenant, Jean-Jacques D

The figure on the right is George Washington. was the first President of the United States (1789–1797), the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He presided over the convention that drafted the Constitution, which replaced the Articles of Confederation and established the position of President.

Washington had a vision of a great and powerful nation that would be built on republican lines using federal power. He sought to use the national government to preserve liberty, improve infrastructure, open the western lands, promote commerce, found a permanent capital, reduce regional tensions and promote a spirit of American nationalism.[5] At death, Washington was eulogized as "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen" by Henry Lee.

The face in the middle is Doña Manuela Sáenz
(December 27, 1797, or possibly 1795 – November 23, 1856) was born in Quito, Viceroyalty of New Granada (Present-day Ecuador) and died in Paita, Peru. She was a revolutionary hero of South America, who also became the mistress of the South American revolutionary leader, Simón Bolívar.
She began an eight-year collaboration and intimate relationship with Bolivar that lasted until his death in 1830. After she prevented an 1828 assassination attempt against him and facilitated his escape, Bolivar began to call her, "Libertadora del Libertador", the 'liberator of the liberator' and she was celebrated and given many honors. For many years after their deaths, their contributions to the revolutions of South America were suppressed and although those of Bolivar were revived a decade later and he was returned to the status of a hero, Manuela's role generally was overlooked until the late twentieth century.

The two figure standing are of a former slave (Left) welcoming and presenting a golden coin with the shape of America to the ones who fought for his freedom and a Native American posturing with skepticismm the arrival of men from strange lands.

The figure on the botton is a hand clothes wringer. In my vision a saw a piece of cloth coming out with the shape of North and South American. On top, there is and Angel witnessing the formation of the “New World.”


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