Luis Desangles: First Master Painter of the Dominican Republic

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Luis Desangles (February 8, 1861-1940), the Son of French parents, from an early age he expressed a love and interest in art. Desangles comes under the tutelage of Leon Cordero in the year 1870, and continues his lessons until Cordero's death in 1874. He then travels to Italy to continue his artistic studies, developing in the fields of drawing, sculpture and painting.

In 1883 he opens his workshop in Santo Domingo, Casa-Taller, where he instructs many of the great names that go on to define the early era of art in the country.

Some of the most recognizable names that studied art under Luis Desangles include; Abelardo Rodríguez Urdaneta, Arturo Grullón, Leopoldo Navarro, Adolfo García Obregón, Manuel María Sanabia, Arquímedes de la Concha, Carlos Ramírez Guerra, Manuel Buñols Medina and Francisco González Lamarche.

Luis Desangles Sibilly, born in Santo Domingo in 1861, died in Santiago de Cuba in 1940, is considered by many art critics and historians, as one of the most important figures related to the flourishing and definitions of modern and contemporary art in the Dominican Republic.

"Portrait of a black man"
Oil on canvas, 20 by 24 inches, completed in 1915

"Portrait of Amelia Francasci"
Oil on canvas, 42 by 34 inches, completed in 1903

"To my beloved daughter"
Mixed media on paper, completed in 1898

"Portrait of Eugenio María de Hostos"
Oil on canvas, 24 by 19 inches, completed between 1900 and 1905

"Swearing in of President Woss and Gil"
Oil on canvas, 30 by 38 inches, completed in 1903

"Portrait of Juan Pablo Duarte"
Oil on canvas, 60 by 40 inches, completed in 1913

"Duarte contemplating the Republic"
Oil on wood, 21 by 26 inches, completed in 1890

"Duarte's Dream"
Oil on wood panel, 20 by 24 inches, completed in 1890

"Juan Pablo Duarte" Sculpture, bust
Plaster, 99 by 77 by 33 cm, completed between 1900 and 1905
Photo credit: PBT Foto, Flickr

"Maria Magdalena"
Oil on Wood, 35.5 by 56 cm. Completion date unknown

"Self Portrait, Luis Desangles"
Oil on canvas, 55 x 50 cms, completed in 1900