Manuel Antonio Caro

Manuel Antonio Caro ( born June 3, 1835 in Ancud, † July 14, 1903 in Valparaíso ) was a Chilean painter.

Life and work

Caro came from a wealthy family and wanted to be a businessman first. During a prolonged illness that tied him to the bed, he discovered his passion for the visual arts. At the insistence of his father he went in 1859 to Paris, where he became friends with Pablo César Gariot, who trained him in the art of portraiture and he helped decorate a job at the Palais des Tuileries.

In 1865, he was - was admitted to the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris - the first Chilean student. In 1866 he returned to his hometown, where he opened a studio in the Plaza de la Matriz in Valparaiso.

Caro's work, especially oil painting in the academic style, dealing with portraits, with subjects from the Chilean history, or they put manners and customs of the country or the urban society of the 19th century dar. He became known with his painting The Zamacueca, a colorful folk dance scene, which was an identity for Chile.