Luis Alfredo Martínez Holguín (June 23, 1869 in Ambato – November 26, 1909) was an Ecuadorian writer, painter, politician, and agriculturist. He introduced

Realism Realism, Realistic, or Realists may refer to: In the arts * Realism (arts), the general attempt to depict subjects truthfully in different forms of the arts Arts movements related to realism include: *Classical Realism *Literary realism, a mov ...

into Ecuadorian literature. He was an opponent of the government of

Eloy Alfaro José Eloy Alfaro Delgado (25 June 1842 – 28 January 1912) often referred to as "The Old Warrior," was an Ecuadorian politician who served as the President of Ecuador from 1895 to 1901 and from 1906 to 1911. Eloy Alfaro emerged as the leader ...

. He worked in different regions and at various jobs, from the humblest to the most prestigious, and knew about the life of the people, which allowed him to write his masterpiece, ''A la Costa'' (1904), one of Ecuador's first realist novels, describing faithfully the social changes taking place in his country in the late nineteenth century. In addition to a literary career, he fought against the liberal guerrillas in the 1890s, managed the Valdez sugar mill and was sub-secretary and Minister of Education. He also promoted construction of a railway between Ambato and the

Ecuadorian Amazon The Amazon rainforest, Amazon jungle or ; es, Selva amazónica, , or usually ; french: Forêt amazonienne; nl, Amazoneregenwoud. In English, the names are sometimes capitalized further, as Amazon Rainforest, Amazon Forest, or Amazon Jungle. ...

which could not be completed. He wrote a treatise on agriculture and one in defense of the indigenous people of Ecuador. Martínez was also a painter. During his lifetime he had a critically acclaimed exhibition of his paintings in Buenos Aires and one of his paintings was awarded Honorable Mention in a contest in Chicago. Some of his best paintings are now housed outside Ecuador. Two are in the United States

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The librar ...

, two in the Modern Art section of the

Vatican Museum The Vatican Museums ( it, Musei Vaticani; la, Musea Vaticana) are the public museums of the Vatican City. They display works from the immense collection amassed by the Catholic Church and the papacy throughout the centuries, including several of ...

, and one is in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Martínez died on November 26, 1909, at the age of 40, and is buried at the Municipal Cemetery of Ambato.Gobierno Autónomo Descentralizado Municipalidad de Ambato - LUIS A. MARTÍNEZ HOLGUÍN

Personal

In 1896 Martínez married Rosario Mera Iturralde, the daughter of the writer

Juan León Mera Juan León Mera Martínez (28 June 1832 – 13 December 1894) was an Ecuadorian essayist, novelist, politician and painter. His best-known works are the Ecuadorian National Hymn and the novel ''Cumandá'' (1879). Additionally, in his politica ...

(1832–1894). They had two children, Blanca Martínez Mera de Tinajero, and Edmundo Martínez Mera.

Works

Books * '' A la costa'' (1904) * Disparates y caricaturas (1903) * La Agricultura ecuatoriana (1903) * "Catecismo de la agricultura" * "Camino al Oriente" Paintings * ''Soledad Eterna'' * ''Requiem''

References

1869 births 1909 deaths Ecuadorian male writers Ecuadorian novelists Ecuadorian politicians Ecuadorian painters People from Ambato, Ecuador 19th-century Ecuadorian painters 19th-century novelists 19th-century male writers {{Ecuador-writer-stub