Academy of Painting (), also known as the School of Fine Arts of Santiago ( ''de Santiago''), was a Chilean art school, founded on March 17, 1849 in

Santiago Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile (), is the capital and largest city of Chile and one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is located in the country's central valley and is the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Regi ...

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in western South America. It is the southernmost country in the world and the closest to Antarctica, stretching along a narrow strip of land between the Andes, Andes Mountains and the Paci ...

. Initially located in a building of the University of San Felipe, now the site of the

Municipal Theater of Santiago The Teatro Municipal, National Opera of Chile is the most important stage theatre and opera house in Santiago, Chile. History and overview The Chilean government ceded a significant parcel of land in downtown Santiago to the municipality, in 184 ...

, it underwent relocation in 1891 and adopted the name Escuela de Bellas Artes. In 1910, the institution merged with the Museo de Bellas Artes, effectively discontinuing its operations as a separate entity. In 1932, it merged with and is now known as the Department of Visual Arts within the

Arts Faculty, University of Chile The Arts Faculty, University of Chile (), is an academic discipline within at the University of Chile, which is located in the capital city of Santiago. Within the Arts Faculty the following departments are represented: visual arts, dance, music, ...

. The academy trained several early Chilean artists, including figures later recognized as the “four great masters of Chilean painting,” as well as artists influenced by

Pedro Lira Pedro Francisco Lira Rencoret (17 May 1845, Santiago – 20 April 1912, Santiago) was a Chilean painter and art critic, who organized exhibitions that led to the establishment of the Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts. He is best known for h ...

and Antonio Smith, and those associated with the Generation of 1913. Its directors included Alejandro Ciccarelli, Ernesto Kirchbach, Juan Mochi, Cosme San Martín—the first Chilean to hold the position—and Virginio Arias. Many of its students originated from regions outside Santiago, including

Alfredo Valenzuela Puelma Alfredo Valenzuela Puelma ( Valparaiso, 8 February 1856 – Villejuif, France, 27 October 1909), was one of Chile's best-known painters and one of the four artists known as the Great Chilean Masters. Biography He showed a talent and i ...

and

Alfredo Helsby Alfredo Helsby Hazell (22 July 1862, Valparaíso – 24 July 1933, Santiago de Chile) was a Chilean landscape painter of English ancestry. He was also an avid promoter of what is now known as alternative medicine. Biography He was the son of T ...

from

Valparaíso Valparaíso () is a major city, Communes of Chile, commune, Port, seaport, and naval base facility in the Valparaíso Region of Chile. Valparaíso was originally named after Valparaíso de Arriba, in Castilla–La Mancha, Castile-La Mancha, Spain ...

, and Valenzuela Llanos from San Fernando.

History

The creation of the Academy of Painting was part of the educational plan of President

Manuel Bulnes Manuel Bulnes Prieto (; December 25, 1799 – October 18, 1866) was a Chilean military and political figure who was President of Chile from 1841 to 1851. Born in Concepción, he served as the president of Chile between 1841 and 1851. At the ...

. These initiatives were part of broader efforts to educate Chilean youth in diverse fields of intellectual activity, resulting in the establishment of primary schools, teacher training programs, high schools, and the

University of Chile The University of Chile () is a public university, public research university in Santiago, Chile. It was founded on November 19, 1842, and inaugurated on September 17, 1843.

. The promotion of various artistic disciplines continued with the founding of the School of Arts and Crafts (1849), the Conservatory of Music (1850), the introduction of architecture classes under the supervision of French architect François Brunet de Baines (1849), and the establishment of ornamentation and sculpture classes (1854) under the direction of Auguste François. On 4 January 1849, following the end of the conflict with the Peruvian-Bolivian Confederation, the decree establishing the Academy of Painting was signed. Writers and

philologists Philology () is the study of language in Oral tradition, oral and writing, written historical sources. It is the intersection of textual criticism, literary criticism, history, and linguistics with strong ties to etymology. Philology is also de ...

including

José Victorino Lastarria José Victorino Lastarria (; 23 March 1817 – 14 June 1888) was a Chilean writer, legislative deputy, senator, diplomat, and finance minister. Early life José Victorino Lastarria was the son of Francisco Lastarria y Cortés and Carmen Santander ...

Hermógenes Irisarri Hermógenes Irisarri Trucíos (April 19, 1819 – July 22, 1886), was a Chilean poet, journalist, diplomat and political figure. He was born in Santiago, the son of Antonio José de Irisarri Alonso and Mercedes Trucíos. He studied at the Nation ...

, and

Jacinto Chacón Jacinto Chacón Barrios (16 August 1820 – 1893) was a Chilean politician of the Liberal Party. He served as the deputy for San Felipe, Santiago Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile (), is the capital and largest city of Chile ...

supported its creation. The official founding took place on 17 March 1849, under the direction of Neapolitan painter Alejandro Ciccarelli, at the facilities of the National Institute. The academy was originally located in the building belonging to the San Felipe University, in what is today the

Municipal Theatre of Santiago The Teatro Municipal, National Opera of Chile is the most important stage theatre and opera house in Santiago, Chile. History and overview The Chilean government ceded a significant parcel of land in downtown Santiago to the municipality, in 184 ...

. Various changes led the academy to merge with the Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts () in 1910, and then later to hand its administration over to the

University of Chile The University of Chile () is a public university, public research university in Santiago, Chile. It was founded on November 19, 1842, and inaugurated on September 17, 1843.

in 1932. According to

Memoria Chilena ''Memoria Chilena'' (Spanish for ''Chilean Memory'') is a Chilean cultural website which, according to its own words, "offers investigations and documents related to key topics which make up the Chilean identity, accessible through the areas of his ...

: In ''La pintura en Chile. Desde la colonia hasta 1981'', authors Gaspar Galaz and Milan Ivelic note: During this period, the academy sought a unified style in Chile, reflecting the neoclassical preferences of Ciccarelli. In

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

, academies set uniform standards and guidelines to maintain what was considered “true art.” This approach was adapted to the Chilean context, drawing on French methodologies. Initially, the academy offered three main areas of instruction: head and limb studies, whole-figure drawing, and sculpture. The final stage included working with live models, drawing clothing from life, and studying anatomy. Over time, the curriculum and teaching staff expanded to accommodate the growing student body following the academy’s merger with the facilities of the National Institute. The Academy of Painting produced some of Chile's first national artists. Despite the significance of the academy, some art historians criticized the early period (1849 to 1915) as one of the dullest in the history of Chilean art and have based their criticism on first Director Alejandro Ciccarelli's attempt to copy the European model of teaching art.

Criticism of the academy

Despite the academy’s significance, many art critics consider this period one of the least notable in Chilean history. In Europe, easel painting had been refined over centuries, supported by numerous masters, extensive collections, and patronage throughout the continent. By contrast, Chile was in the early stages of developing its own artistic tradition, with limited local painting and a nascent national identity. Efforts to replicate European techniques without a firmly established local context proved challenging for the academy, especially during the more than two decades of leadership by its first director, Alejandro Ciccarelli. According to the Spanish critic Antonio Romera, Ciccarelli was: The same author notes that Ciccarelli did not succeed in educating disciples who fully adhered to his methods.Instead, several advanced students, including

and Antonio Smith, parted ways and explored different artistic styles and workshops. According to Pedro Lira, Ciccarelli’s setbacks were largely due to the limited artistic knowledge among Chilean aristocracy in the mid-19th century, with few points of reference beyond the “precursors of Chilean painting.” This environment made significant educational progress difficult and challenged the Italian’s neoclassical approach. While his rigid methods drew criticism from several students, they also introduced a neoclassical tradition in Chilean painting.

Notable people

It would be the starting point for some of the most prominent Chilean painters, including the four great masters of Chilean painting,

Juan Francisco González Juan Francisco González Escobar (Santiago, Chile, September 25, 1853 – Santiago, March 4, 1933) is known as one of the four Great Chilean Masters and as the archetypal romantic bohemian artist of the early 20th century. He was the most pr ...

, and

Alberto Valenzuela Llanos Alberto Valenzuela Llanos (August 29, 1869 – July 23, 1925), was a Chilean painter. He is among the Chile's greatest painters and one of the four Great Chilean Masters, along with Pedro Lira, Alfredo Valenzuela Puelma and Juan Francisco Gon ...

; their pupils; and also the future “

Generación del 13 Generación del 13 (Generación del Trece; The 13 Generation) was Chile's first painter collective. Its name derives from the year 1913, after a joint exhibition was held at the Salon (gathering), ''Salon'' of the Chilean newspaper ''El Mercurio' ...

” (13 Generation) painting collective. Notable academy students included Antonio Smith,

Elisa Berroeta Elisa Berroeta Araya was a Chilean 20th-century engraver, illustrator, and visual artist. She is known as one of the first female artists awarded scholarships by the Chilean government for studies in Europe. Biography Elisa Berroeta–Araya ...

, Cosme San Martín,

Onofre Jarpa Onofre Jarpa Labra (12 June 1849 – 15 February 1940) was a Chilean landscape painter in the Romantic style, and an essayist on various artistic topics. Biography His education began at the Instituto Nacional, a prestigious school that h ...

, and

Manuel Antonio Caro Manuel Antonio Caro Olavarría (born Manuel Antonio Caro Olavarría) (June 3, 1835 – July 14, 1903) was a Chilean Painting, painter

Directors

The academy's early Directors were Europeans, the Neapolitan artist Alejandro Ciccarelli; the German artist Ernst Kirchbach; and the Florentine Giovanni "Juan" Mochi. The first Chilean to hold the Director position was Cosme San Martín. * Alejandro Ciccarelli (1849 to 1869) * Ernst Kirchbach (1869 to 1875) * Juan Mochi (1876 to 1881) * Cosme San Martin (1881 to 1893) *

(1893 to 1900) * Virginio Arias (1900 to 1911) * Fernando Alvarez de Sotomayor (1911 to 1915)

Students of Ciccarelli (1849–1869)

Ciccarelli's neoclassical style introduced themes previously unseen in Chile, including mythological motifs and scenes referencing ancient classical cultures. Despite receiving instruction at the academy, many students—particularly those who achieved prominence, such as Pedro Lira and Antonio Smith—resisted Cicarelli’s teaching methods. Nevertheless, the following figures stand out among those who passed through his workshop: *

, described by Ricardo Bindis in Chilean Painting 200 Years as the “natural leader” of the Academy. He is often cited as the foremost of the “four great masters” of Chilean painting. Historians, including Antonio Romera, identify him as part of the “Generation of the Mid-Century.” * Antonio Smith, a Romantic painter recognized for establishing Chile’s national landscape school. He is also regarded as Chile’s first caricaturist and worked for Correo Literario. *

Manuel Antonio Caro Manuel Antonio Caro Olavarría (born Manuel Antonio Caro Olavarría) (June 3, 1835 – July 14, 1903) was a Chilean Painting, painterPascual Ortega, a painter known for his genre and religious subjects. His style shares notable similarities with Cicarelli’s. *

, a Romantic painter noted for his landscape works and also served as a diplomat. * Cosme San Martín, a notable painter who later became the first Chilean to serve as director of the Academy. *Abraham Zañartu, a painter primarily devoted to genre scenes and oil portraits. *Miguel Campos, a prominent student of the Academy who distinguished himself as a draftsman in Paris. Other students included Luciano Lainez, Manuel Mena, José Castañeda, Nicolás Guzmán, Albina Elguín, and Clarisa Donoso Bascuñán. In 1866,

Agustina Gutiérrez Agustina is a given name, a feminine version of Augustine. It is a name popular in Argentina, Indonesia, and Uruguay. It may refer to: * Agustina de Aragón (1786–1857), Spanish heroine * Agustina Bantiloc (born 1968), Filipino para-archer * ...

enrolled, becoming the institution’s first recorded female student. After several years, the Neapolitan master shifted his approach, “either due to pressure from some of his disciples or as the result of personal development,” incorporating elements of landscape painting into his work. Antonio Smith was a strong critic of his instructor. In ''Correo Literario'', he wrote: Chilean artistic rebellion emerged during this director’s tenure, although its impact would not become evident until several decades later. In 1859, by supreme decree, the Academy was granted the status of an institution of higher education and was renamed the University Section of Fine Arts, integrating the architecture and sculpture classes that had previously been taught separately. This decree also merged the Academy with facilities of the National Institute, a significant development as many students were simultaneously enrolled in both institutions. In the same year, under the administration of President

Manuel Montt Manuel Francisco Antonio Julián Montt Torres (; September 4, 1809 – September 21, 1880) was a Chilean statesman and scholar. He was twice elected President of Chile between 1851 and 1861. He was the first civilian to serve a full term as Presi ...

, a new decree reorganized the Sculpture division, dividing it into statuary and monumental sculpture. After two decades as director, the Italian resigned in 1869 and was succeeded by the German artist Ernesto Kirchbach.

Students of Ernesto Kirchbach (1869–1875)

Ernesto Sigismund Kirchbach was a German painter born in Dresden in 1832 and died there in 1880. He began working in

at age 37, introducing a strict academic approach and promoting

Romanticism Romanticism (also known as the Romantic movement or Romantic era) was an artistic and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century. The purpose of the movement was to advocate for the importance of subjec ...

among his students. According to Ivelic and Galaz: According to Pedro Lira, Kirchbach showed signs of eccentricity and nervous outbursts, making his classes unpopular among students. Nonetheless, they acknowledged his talent for painting. Among Kirchbach’s notable students were: *

: A prominent Chilean painter who also studied under Cicarelli. Cosme San Martín: A painter who later became director of the Academy; he, too, was a former student of Cicarelli. *

Alberto Orrego Luco Alberto Orrego Luco (20 April 1854 in Valparaíso – 2 June 1931 in Santiago) was a Chilean Impressionist landscape painter and diplomat. Biography He was born to a family of wealthy farmers.

: A Chilean landscape painter who has been identified by Ricardo Bindis as one of “the greatest Chilean painters of the 19th century.” *

: One of the four “great masters” of Chilean painting, known for introducing the trend of painting nudes in Chile. *

: A Romantic landscape painter and former student of Cicarelli. Pedro León Carmona: Regarded by Kirchbach as one of his most accomplished students. Carmona later founded both the ''Academia de Pintura del Círculo Católico'' and the ''Academia de Pintura de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile''.

Students of Juan Mochi (1876-1883)

The third director of the academy was the Florentine painter Giovanni Mochi Pinx, known in Chile as Juan Mochi. He was the first to cultivate direct disciples, owing to his more innovative teaching method that emphasized guiding and encouraging students’ inherent abilities, rather than adhering strictly to the academic constraints of previous years. Mochi was the first director to earn consistent appreciation from his students, many of whom developed distinctive personal styles under his instruction. Because his tenure overlapped with the

War of the Pacific The War of the Pacific (), also known by War of the Pacific#Etymology, multiple other names, was a war between Chile and a Treaty of Defensive Alliance (Bolivia–Peru), Bolivian–Peruvian alliance from 1879 to 1884. Fought over Atacama Desert ...

, numerous works he produced relate to that conflict. Mochi’s innovative approach is also reflected in his own body of work. Although initially associated with Romanticism, he adopted a more realist style after arriving in Chile. Critics such as Ivelic and Galaz compare his costumbrista pieces to those of

Manuel Antonio Caro Manuel Antonio Caro Olavarría (born Manuel Antonio Caro Olavarría) (June 3, 1835 – July 14, 1903) was a Chilean Painting, painterMauricio Rugendas, and Ernesto Charton de Treville. As director, he encouraged students to experiment beyond traditional academic conventions, integrating elements of local (Creole) painting with European influences. Several significant figures in Chilean fine arts studied under his guidance, including three of the four traditional “great masters” of Chilean painting. *

: An academic painter known for his portraits and depictions rooted in a strict natural representation of the subject. He is recognized as one of Chile’s four great masters of painting and also studied under Kirchbach. *

: A landscape painter counted among the four great masters of Chilean painting, widely considered by some authors to be Chile’s most internationally awarded artist. His honors include the Knight’s Cross of the French

Legion of Honor The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and civil. Currently consisting of five classes, it was ...

. *

: A painter sometimes described as an Impressionist. His work and role as a teacher influenced movements such as the Generation of 1913 and the Montparnasse Group. He also taught Ernesto Molina, Nicanor González Méndez, Abraham Zañartu, and the sisters Aurora Mira and Magdalena Mira, as well as Celia Castro, considered Chile’s first professional woman painter. During Mochi’s tenure, many established Chilean artists practiced independently. Figures such as

and his associates, Antonio Smith with his landscape focus,

Thomas Somerscales Thomas Jacques Somerscales (born in Sculcoates, Yorkshire on 29 October 1842; died in Sculcoates, Yorkshire on 27 June 1927) was an English teacher, sailor, and landscape and marine painter. He is also considered a Chilean painter as he began hi ...

, and his student Casanova Zenteno demonstrated that artistic development was not limited to Academy instruction. Their approach took shape under the influence of Spanish painter Fernando Álvarez de Sotomayor, who provided the final impetus for what became the Generation of 1913—considered a formative stage in the emergence of a distinctly Chilean art. Sources offer inconsistent information about the events following Mochi’s tenure, with essential dates varying across different accounts. It is known, however, that Cosme San Martín served as interim director, becoming the first Chilean to hold that position. Before assuming this role, he had already taught several notable artists, including Enrique Lynch,

Pablo Burchard Pablo Burchard (November 4, 1875 – July 13, 1964) was a Chilean painter. His father was German architect Teodoro Burchard Haeberle, who arrived in Chile around 1855, and introduced the Gothic style, and his mother was María (Sofía) Luisa Egg ...

, Marcial Plaza Ferrand, and Arturo Gordon. In 1891, the academy was renamed the School of Fine Arts and relocated to

Matucana ''Matucana'' is a genus of cacti (family Cactaceae), containing approximately 20 species of mostly globular plants. The genus is known only from Peru, mostly along the Marañón River. Some species are endangered due to collection for the speci ...

Street.

Virginio Arias (1900-1911)

After a period marked by low enrollment and diminished activity, Virginio Arias assumed the directorship of the School of Fine Arts. The renowned Chilean sculptor successfully recruited qualified instructors and actively supported students in completing their training. One of his most notable hires was the Spanish painter Fernando Álvarez de Sotomayor, who introduced elements of

Goya Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (; ; 30 March 1746 – 16 April 1828) was a Spanish romantic painter and printmaker. He is considered the most important Spanish artist of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. His paintings, drawings, an ...

-influenced painting into Chilean art. In 1908, the School became part of the

Universidad de Chile The University of Chile () is a public research university in Santiago Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile (), is the capital and largest city of Chile and one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is located in the co ...

. In 1910, it underwent a final major transition, relocating its facilities to the recently established National Museum of Fine Arts.

Álvarez de Sotomayor (1911-1915)

In 1911, following the departure of Virginio Arias, Fernando Álvarez de Sotomayor assumed leadership of the School of Fine Arts. He had arrived in Chile a few years prior, initially hired by the government as a professor of color theory. Sotomayor made it his goal to reintroduce Iberian heritage to his students, including those from the Generation of 13, by demoting himself and returning to

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

. Álvarez de Sotomayor introduced Iberian influences to his students, including members of the Generation of 13. After the group's official formation, he stepped back from his role in Chile and returned to Spain, where he later served as director of the

Prado Museum The Museo del Prado ( ; ), officially known as Museo Nacional del Prado, is the main Spanish national art museum, located in central Madrid. It houses collections of European art, dating from the 12th century to the early 20th century, based on ...

and the San Fernando Academy. For the art critic Luis Álvarez Urquieta:

Legacy

Over time, Chilean painting underwent significant transformations. It shifted away from its

pre-Hispanic In the history of the Americas, the pre-Columbian era, also known as the pre-contact era, or as the pre-Cabraline era specifically in Brazil, spans from the initial peopling of the Americas in the Upper Paleolithic to the onset of European c ...

roots, where it served as a form of indigenous art, and from its colonial function, when it was used to instruct and unify social classes. It also moved beyond the dispersed stylistic approaches that characterized the early “precursors” of national painting. During this period, access to the academy—and to painting and sculpture in general—became largely confined to Chile’s wealthier social classes. Many works created at that time drew heavily on European masters, limiting the development of a distinctly Chilean style. Although the Academy’s early years were marked by various limitations, they also reflected Chile’s emerging commitment to advancing artistic standards. Furthermore, the institution served as a launching point for several independent painters who, discontented with its rigid methods, sought out new techniques and directions. The Academia–Escuela de Bellas Artes enrolled students who played a significant role in Chilean painting, including members of the Generation of 1913 and several notable artists. Although most works produced at the institution are now privately owned, a number of oil paintings and sculptures remain in Chilean museums and other public venues.

Institutions with the artists of the Academy

References

{{Authority control Academy of Painting (Santiago, Chile) Defunct schools in Chile Educational institutions established in 1849 Educational institutions disestablished in 1932

History

Criticism of the academy

Notable people

Directors

Students of Ciccarelli (1849–1869)

Students of Ernesto Kirchbach (1869–1875)

Students of Juan Mochi (1876-1883)

Virginio Arias (1900-1911)

Álvarez de Sotomayor (1911-1915)

Legacy

Institutions with the artists of the Academy

See also

References