José Campeche facts for kids

Quick facts for kids José Campeche y Jordán
José Campeche (Self-portrait)
Born	José Campeche Jordán (1751-12-03)December 3, 1751 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Died	November 7, 1809(1809-11-07) (aged 57) San Juan, Puerto Rico
Nationality	Puerto Rican
Education	Trained by Luis Paret y Alcázar
Known for	Painting
Notable work	Virgen de la Soledad de la Victoria Our Lady of Bethlehem The Virgin of the Rosary Saint John the Baptist The Sacred Family The Bishop of San Francisco de la Cuerda The Vision of Saint Anthony The Shipwreck of Power in honor of Ramón Power y Giralt
Movement	Rococo

José Campeche y Jordán (born December 23, 1751 – died November 7, 1809) was a very important artist from Puerto Rico. Many people think he was the first famous Puerto Rican painter. Art experts believe he was one of the best "Rococo" artists in all of the Americas. Rococo is a fancy and decorative style of art. Campeche loved to use bright colors in his paintings. These colors often reminded people of the beautiful landscapes of Puerto Rico. He also painted important people from society and politics.

Early Life of José Campeche

José Campeche was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. His parents were Tomás Campeche and María Jordán y Marqués. His father, Tomás, was a freed slave who was born in Puerto Rico. His mother, María, came from the Canary Islands. Because of his parents' backgrounds, José was considered mulato.

José's father worked as a gilder. This meant he restored and painted religious statues. His father's work helped spark young José's interest in art. Later, José was taught by Luis Paret y Alcázar. Paret y Alcázar was a Spanish court painter who had been sent away from Spain.

Famous Paintings by Campeche

Campeche became well-known for his paintings. He often painted religious scenes and portraits of important people. These included governors and other leaders. His most famous paintings and portraits include:

• Juan Alejo de Arizmendi
• Our Lady of Bethlehem
• Portrait of Brigadier don Ramón de Castro y Gutiérrez
• Portrait of Governor don Miguel de Ustariz
• Saint John the Baptist
• The Bishop of San Francisco de la Cuerda
• The Rescue of Don Ramón Power y Giralt (in honor of Ramón Power y Giralt)
• The Sacred Family
• The Virgin of the Rosary
• The Vision of Saint Anthony
• Virgen de la Soledad de la Victoria
• Doña María de los Dolores Gutiérrez del Mazo y Pérez, painted around 1796.

Why Campeche is Important

People in Puerto Rico during Campeche's time really admired his art and his character. Today, he is still seen as one of the most talented Rococo artists in the Americas. His beautiful artworks can be found in many places. You can see them in museums, churches, and chapels. One famous place is the Capilla del Cristo in San Juan. His paintings are also part of private collections in Puerto Rico and Venezuela. José Campeche passed away in San Juan on November 7, 1809.

Many high-quality images of art from Puerto Rico's museums are now online. This project was made possible with help from the Institute, Google Arts & Culture, and Lin Manuel Miranda. By November 2019, 350 such artworks were available. This included many paintings by José Campeche.

Honoring José Campeche

José Campeche has been honored in many ways:

• There is a special "José Campeche room" in the old Dominican Convent in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Some of his works are displayed there. This building is being updated to become the National Gallery of Puerto Rico.
• Many schools and streets in Puerto Rico are named after Campeche. This helps remember his legacy. For example, José Campeche High School is in San Lorenzo.
• Manuel Gregorio Tavárez, a composer, wrote a funeral march called "Redención" to honor Campeche.
• Puerto Rican graphic artist Lorenzo Homar also created a piece of art to remember Campeche.
• Campeche is buried in the San José Church in Old San Juan.

See also

In Spanish: José Campeche para niños