Benito Quinquela Martín facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benito Quinquela Martín
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Quinquela Martín in 1933
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| Born | March 1, 1890 La Boca, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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| Died | January 28, 1977 (aged 86) |
| Nationality | Argentine |
| Known for | Painting |
Benito Quinquela Martín (born March 1, 1890 – died January 28, 1977) was a famous painter from Argentina. He is known as the best painter of port scenes. His artworks show the busy, strong, and sometimes rough daily life in the port of La Boca, a neighborhood in Buenos Aires.
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Early Life of Benito Quinquela Martín
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Benito's exact birthday is not known. He was found abandoned at an orphanage on March 20, 1890. A note said his name was Benito Juan Martín. The nuns thought he was about twenty days old, so March 1 is now celebrated as his birthday.
When he was seven, he was adopted by Manuel and Justina Molina de Chinchella. He took his stepfather's last name, which later became Quinquela in Spanish.
At age 14, Benito went to a small night art school in La Boca. During the day, he worked in his family's coal yard. When he turned 17, he joined the Pezzini Stiattesi Conservatory, where he studied art until 1912.
International Art Exhibitions
By 1910, Quinquela Martín started showing his art in small exhibitions, mostly in La Boca. In 1920, he won second prize at the Salón Nacional (National Exhibition). Later that year, he represented Argentina at an exhibition in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Important people, including the Brazilian president, saw his work.
In the 1920s, Argentine President Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear and his wife admired Quinquela Martín's paintings. This led to a lasting friendship. In 1922, Quinquela Martín worked for Argentina at its Madrid Consulate in Spain. In April 1923, he had an exhibition in Madrid. Two of his paintings were bought by the Círculo de Bellas Artes. Two more were bought by the Museum of Modern Art of Madrid.
In 1925, he traveled to France. He said President Alvear wanted his art to be seen in Paris. The Musée du Luxembourg bought his painting Tormenta en el astillero.
In 1927, he went to New York City. His paintings were shown for the first time in the United States at the Anderson Galleries. The Metropolitan Museum of New York bought two of his works. He had more exhibitions there with help from sculptor Georgette Blandi. Before returning home, he was invited to exhibit in Havana, Cuba.
In 1929, he traveled to Italy. He had an exhibition at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome. Benito Mussolini chose several of his paintings for the Museum of Modern Art of Rome. Quinquela Martín made his last trip in 1930 to London. He exhibited at the Burlington Gallery. Several British museums bought his paintings, including the Museum of Arts of London.
Later Life and Legacy
When he returned to Argentina, Quinquela Martín became a philanthropist. This means he loved to help his community. He donated many artworks to La Boca and the city of Buenos Aires. He also bought land and gave money to build a school and a Children's Dental Hospital. He even donated his own home to be used as a museum.
On March 15, 1974, at 84 years old, he married his longtime assistant, Alejandrina Marta Cerruti. He passed away on January 28, 1977, in Buenos Aires, due to heart problems. He was buried in La Chacarita Cemetery. He had painted his own coffin the year before. He said,
"Quien vivió rodeado de color no puede ser enterrado en una caja lisa"
("He who lived surrounded by color cannot be buried in a plain box."). The coffin's lid had a painting of the port of La Boca.
Famous Works
Some of his most famous paintings include:
- Tormenta en el Astillero (Storm in the Shipyard) – located at the Musée du Luxembourg in Paris.
- Puente de la Boca (Bridge of La Boca) – located at St. James's Palace in London.
- Crepúsculo en el astillero (Twilight in the Shipyard) – located at the Museo de Bellas Artes de la Boca Quinquela Martín in Buenos Aires.
See also
In Spanish: Benito Quinquela Martín para niños
