Marcos Segundo Maturana Molina (February 15, 1830 – May 18, 1892) was a Chilean military and

art collector A private collection is a privately owned collection of works (usually artworks) or valuable items. In a museum or art gallery context, the term signifies that a certain work is not owned by that institution, but is on loan from an individual ...

. Given his service in the

War of the Pacific The War of the Pacific ( es, link=no, Guerra del Pacífico), also known as the Saltpeter War ( es, link=no, Guerra del salitre) and by multiple other names, was a war between Chile and a Bolivian–Peruvian alliance from 1879 to 1884. Fought ...

against Peru and Bolivia he is regarded a

war hero A hero (feminine: heroine) is a real person or a main fictional character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, courage, or strength. Like other formerly gender-specific terms (like ''actor''), ''hero' ...

by the Chilean army. Maturana is known for organising the National Museum of Paintings of Santiago, currently known as the National Museum of Fine Arts of Santiago de Chile.

Family and studies

He was the eldest son of independence era general

Marcos Maturana del Campo Marcos Maturana del Campo (c. 1802 – August 29, 1871) was a Chilean military and political figure who served in the Chilean War of Independence and the War of the Confederation. Maturana was born in San Fernando, the son of Manuel Jesús Matu ...

and Francisca Molinas Berben; Single and without offspring. He studied at the Núñez School in Santiago, Chile. On Saturday, July 2, 1844, at age 14 he entered the ''Military School''.

Military career

On September 18, 1848, he was awarded the rank of Sub-Lieutenant of Artillery. On April 20, 1851, in the so-called

Urriola mutiny Urriola is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Ciro Luis Urriola (1863–1922), Panamanian politician * Malú Urriola (1967–2023), Chilean poet *Martiniano Urriola Martiniano Urriola Guzmán was a Chilean colonel of the War ...

he defended the headquarters of Artillery of Santiago, under the orders of his father. In this case, he was seriously injured in the chest. For his conduct in these events, he was granted the ascent of

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

, and later, in 1854, he was promoted to

Sergeant Major Sergeant major is a senior non-commissioned rank or appointment in many militaries around the world. History In 16th century Spain, the ("sergeant major") was a general officer. He commanded an army's infantry, and ranked about third in the ...

In 1858 he had health problems and in 1861 he rejoined the army. In October of that year he was appointed first assistant of the General Inspection of the National Guard and in 1862 he became a

lieutenant colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...

. On September 25, 1865, he assumed as Commander of Arms of the Constitution and later on November 16 he was appointed ''Governor of the Constitution'' and participated in the war against Spain, defending the coast of the

province of Talca Talca Province ( es, Provincia de Talca) is one of four provinces of the central Chilean region of Maule (VII). Its capital is the city of Talca. Administration As a province, Talca is a second-level administrative division of Chile, governed b ...

. On February 28, 1866, he assumed as commander and organizer of the 11th Line Battalion and participated in the Araucanía campaigns. July 12, 1867 he was appointed by President

José Joaquín Pérez José Joaquín Pérez Mascayano (; 6 May 1801 – 1 July 1889) was a Chilean political figure. He served as the president of Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the sou ...

, his Aide-de-camp. Later in 1869 he was Aide-de-camp of President

Federico Errázuriz Zañartu Federico Marcos del Rosario Errázuriz Zañartu (; April 25, 1825 – July 20, 1877) was a Chilean political figure. He served as the president of Chile between 1871 and 1876. Biography He was born in Santiago in 1825, of Basque descent. He studi ...

and before the War of the Pacific he was Aide-de-camp of President

Aníbal Pinto Garmendia Aníbal is the Spanish and Portuguese masculine given name equivalent of Hannibal (q.v.), itself a latinization of the Greek name Hanníbas (Ἀννίβας), derived from “ḥnbʿl” in the Carthaginian language (Carthaginian Punic script, 𐤇 ...

. In 1868, he was a member of the Commission that repatriated the remains of the father of the Chilean homeland, General Bernardo O'Higgins. May 15, 1879, he was appointed

General Director A director general or director-general (plural: ''directors general'', ''directors-general'', ''director generals'' or ''director-generals'' ) or general director is a senior executive officer, often the chief executive officer, within a government ...

of the Maestranza and Artillery Park and on October 1, of the same year he was appointed Commander of the forts and batteries of

Valparaíso Valparaíso (; ) is a major city, seaport, naval base, and educational centre in the commune of Valparaíso, Chile. "Greater Valparaíso" is the second largest metropolitan area in the country. Valparaíso is located about northwest of Santiago ...

. Shortly after he resumed command of the ''Maestranza de Santiago'' and it was his responsibility to quell the fire that occurred in these facilities on January 27, 1880.

War of the Pacific

The

war of the Pacific The War of the Pacific ( es, link=no, Guerra del Pacífico), also known as the Saltpeter War ( es, link=no, Guerra del salitre) and by multiple other names, was a war between Chile and a Bolivian–Peruvian alliance from 1879 to 1884. Fought ...

began and on August 27, 1880, he was promoted to brigadier general. On September 29 of the same year he obtained the appointment of Chief of the General Staff, rank with which he participated in this war. He was with

José Francisco Vergara José Francisco Vergara Echevers was a Chilean politician, war hero, cavalry commander, presidential candidate, engineer and journalist who was notable for founding Viña del Mar as well as his several military campaigns of the War of the Pacific ...

, where they participated in the battles of Chorrillos and Miraflores on January 13 and 15, 1881. In 1881, he returned to

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...

and returned again to the direction of the ''Maestranza''. On June 14 of the same year he was appointed Commander of the forts and batteries of

and on July 31, 1881, he organized the National Museum of Paintings of Santiago, currently known as the National Museum of Fine Arts of Santiago de Chile. On January 4, 1883, he ascended to

General of Division Divisional general is a general officer rank who commands an army division. The rank originates from the French (Revolutionary) System, and is used by a number of countries. The rank is above a brigade general, and normally below an army corp ...

and in 1889, on July 23, he retired from the

Chilean army The Chilean Army ( es, Ejército de Chile) is the land arm of the Military of Chile. This 80,000-person army (9,200 of which are conscripts) is organized into six divisions, a special operations brigade and an air brigade. In recent years, and a ...

Legacy

Maturana General for years he dedicated himself to the acquisition of works of art such as

ancient weapons This is a list of historical pre-modern weapons grouped according to their uses, with rough classes set aside for very similar weapons. Some weapons may fit more than one category (e.g. the spear may be used either as a polearm or as a projectil ...

, Inca archeological pieces, European porcelain, cologne items and paintings of different Chilean and foreign painters.
On July 31, 1880, together with the Florentine Juan Mochi, the sculptor José Miguel Blanco and the young painter Enrique Swinburn Kirk, the beginnings of the National Museum of Paintings, which had been formed with 140 works of art. This museum was inaugurated on September 18, 1880, becoming part of the Chilean patriotic festivities of this year. He was a brave soldier with natural ability. He had served in the campaigns in which he participated, excelling in the war actions of 1851 and 1880, which made him ascend rapidly on the military staircase; this allowed him to occupy important military positions. He remained forever in Chilean memory as one of his war heroes. Art was his great passion and the "Institute of the Public Instruction Council" received the ''Maturana General Prize'' in 1882 that lasted until great economic depression of 1930.Illustrated Workshop January 2, 1888
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maturana Molina, Marcos Segundo 1830 births 1892 deaths People from Santiago Chilean people of Spanish descent Portrait painters Heads of state of Chile Chilean Army generals People of the 1851 Chilean Revolution Chilean people of the War of the Pacific

Family and studies

Military career

War of the Pacific

Legacy

See also

References