José Vela Zanetti facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
José Vela Zanetti
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Cojuelo, Vela Zanetti, Museo de Arte Moderno, Santo Domingo
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| Born | 27 May 1913  |
| Died | 4 January 1999 (aged 85) Burgos |
| Resting place | Burgos cemetery |
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José Vela Zanetti (born May 27, 1913 – died January 4, 1999) was a famous Spanish painter. He was also a muralist, which means he painted large pictures directly onto walls. He created art in Spain, the Dominican Republic, and the United States.
Contents
Early Life and Artistic Beginnings
José Vela Zanetti was born in a town called Milagros, in Spain, on May 27, 1913. He spent his childhood years in León. Later, he moved to Madrid to study art. There, he learned from a teacher named José Ramón Zaragoza.
In 1931, when he was just 18, Vela Zanetti had his very first art show in León. His talent was recognized, and in 1933, he received a special scholarship to study art in Italy.
A difficult time came for Spain in 1936 with the start of the Spanish Civil War. During this war, Vela Zanetti's father passed away because of his political beliefs. After the war ended in 1939, Vela Zanetti had to leave Spain. He moved to the Dominican Republic, along with other artists like Josep Gausachs and Eugenio Granell.
A New Start in the Dominican Republic
Vela Zanetti quickly became very successful in the Dominican Republic. Just one year after arriving, he held his first art show in Santo Domingo. He became well-known for his murals. He was asked to paint more than 100 murals across the country.
Some of his important murals can be found in buildings like the Justice Building, the Central Bank, and the National Library in Santo Domingo. Besides painting, he also taught art. In 1945, he became a professor at the National School of Fine Arts in Santo Domingo. By 1949, he was made the director of the school.
Painting for Peace at the United Nations
In 1951, Vela Zanetti received a special award called a Guggenheim Fellowship. This award helps artists and scholars with their work. He used this fellowship to travel to New York City in the United States. He liked New York so much that he decided to stay there for several years.
In 1953, he created his most famous painting, a huge mural called Mankind's Struggle for a Lasting Peace. This important artwork is located at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The mural uses calm colors like blues and browns. It shows the terrible effects of war. But it also shows people working together to rebuild the world and create a better future.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1960, Vela Zanetti returned to his hometown of Milagros, Spain. He lived in the same house where he was born. In his later years, he focused on smaller paintings that could be displayed on an easel. He painted many different subjects, including:
- Portraits of people
- Still lifes (paintings of objects like fruit or flowers)
- Landscapes (pictures of nature)
- Religious scenes
José Vela Zanetti passed away on January 4, 1999, in Burgos, Spain. He was 85 years old. His art continues to inspire people around the world.
See also
In Spanish: José Vela Zanetti para niños
