José Gil de Castro y Morales (1 September 1785 – c. 1840/41) was an Afro-Peruvian portrait painter,

cartographer Cartography (; from grc, χάρτης , "papyrus, sheet of paper, map"; and , "write") is the study and practice of making and using maps. Combining science, aesthetics and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality (or an i ...

and soldier who spent many years in Chile.

Biography

He was born in

Lima Lima ( ; ), originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of The Kings) is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of the central coastal part of t ...

; his parents were free citizens. His first studies were with Julián Jayo (?-1821) in Trujillo, while he was stationed there as an officer in the colonial militia. When he returned to Lima, he was apprenticed to José del Pozo.Brief biography
@ MCN Biografías Somewhere between 1805 and 1808, he moved to Chile, where he opened a studio and established his reputation as a portrait painter. He was familiarly known as "El Mulato Gil". In 1816, he was appointed Grand Master of the Guild of Painters. That same year, he enlisted in the

Army of the Andes The Army of the Andes ( es, Ejército de los Andes) was a military force created by the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata (Argentina) and mustered by general José de San Martín in his campaign to free Chile from the Spanish Empire. In 181 ...

and was appointed an officer in the Corps of Engineers. He was placed in charge of making maps, a trade he had practiced earlier in Peru. In 1817, he was married in

Santiago Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile as well as one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is the center of Chile's most densely populated region, the Santiago Metropolitan Region, who ...

and became a Captain in the Rifle Battalion. He also built a house in the

Barrio Lastarria Barrio Lastarria (Lastarria Neighborhood) is an historical neighborhood in the center of Santiago, Chile. Now a popular tourist hub, Barrio Lastarria is a center for cultural activity, with cinemas, theaters, museums, restaurants and bars. Activ ...

and was named one of the first members of the

Legion of Merit of Chile The Legion of Merit of Chile ( es, Legion de Mérito de Chile), frequently abbreviated to the ''Legion of Merit'' or the ''Legion'', was a Chilean multi-class order of merit established on 1 June 1817 by Bernardo O'Higgins to recognise distingui ...

. His home and the surrounding grounds are now part of the

Plaza Mulato Gil de Castro Plaza Mulato Gil de Castro is located in Barrio Lastarria, between Plaza Baquedano, Parque Forestal and Cerro Santa Lucía in Santiago, Chile. A popular destination for tourists and locals alike, the area is known for its cultural offerings and ...

. Thanks to his reputation as a portrait painter, he travelled extensively throughout Chile and Argentina, working on commissions from notable public figures. A distinguishing characteristic of his work is the text relating to his subject, placed on a banner, plaque or other device, that he included on many of his canvases. In 1820, he became a cartographer for the new Chilean government, but returned to Peru, probably in 1825, and was appointed an official government painter. One of his most notable portraits, and one of the few that doesn't depict a member of the upper classes, is the one of José Olaya, a fisherman who became a hero of the

Peruvian War of Independence The Peruvian War of Independence ( es, Guerra de Independencia del Perú, links=no) consisted in a series of military conflicts in Peru beginning with viceroy Abascal military victories in the south frontier in 1809, in La Paz revolution a ...

. Although his birthdate can be ascertained from baptismal records, his date and place of death are unknown. Later sources, from the 1870s, say he died at the age of sixty-five, although his death has been placed from 1839 to 1850.Brief biography
@ Portal de Arte The Chilean writer , in his novel ''Cosa Mentale'' (A Mental Thing, 1992), attempts to recreate the painter's life, in a fantastical manner.

Brief biographies online

External links

"Gil de Castro, Painter of Latin American Independence Movement, Gets a Fresh Look in New Getty-Supported Publication"
@ the Getty Iris {{DEFAULTSORT:Castro, Jose Gil De Peruvian painters Peruvian male painters 1785 births 1841 deaths People from Lima Portrait painters

Biography

Brief biographies online

Further reading

External links