Manuel Chili "Caspicara" facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Manuel Chili (Caspicara)
Born	ca. 1723 Real Audiencia of Quito
Died	1796 Real Audiencia of Quito
Known for	Sculpture
Movement	Quito School (Escuela Quiteña)

Manuel Chili (born around 1723 in Quito, died 1796) was a famous Ecuadorian sculptor. He was also known as Caspicara, which means "wooden face." Caspicara was a key artist in the Quito School movement during the 1700s in the Andes mountains.

He created many important religious sculptures, mostly from wood. These sculptures were often painted with many colors and showed an elegant Spanish Baroque style. You can find his works in places like the Quito Cathedral and the Church of San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador. Some of his art is also in Popayán, Colombia. A smart person named Eugenio Espejo helped bring Caspicara's work back into public attention in 1791.

About Caspicara's Life

Caspicara was born into an Indigenous family in Quito around the year 1723. He learned from other great artists of his time, like Bernardo de Legarda. Some people even think Caspicara took over from Legarda as the leading sculptor.

As a sculptor, Caspicara worked with both wood and marble. He always used the popular Baroque style, and his art was usually about religious topics. He was very good at arranging figures in his sculptures, almost like they were paintings. He was also excellent at showing the human body in his art.

Famous Works by Caspicara

Many artworks are believed to have been made by Caspicara. It is often hard to know the exact date when each piece was created. Here are some of his most well-known sculptures:

• Las Virtudes Teologales (The "Four Virtues") – found in the choir of the Quito Cathedral.
• La Sábana Santa ("Holy Shroud") – also in the Quito Cathedral.
• Saint Francis – located in the Church of San Francisco.
• The Twelve Apostles – found in the Church of San Francisco.
• San Pedro de Alcántara – also in the Church of San Francisco.
• Assumption of the Virgin – located in the Church of San Francisco.
• El Cristo del Calvario de El Belén (Christ in Bethlehem).
• Del Cristo Yacente (Reclining Christ).
• Virgen de la Luz (Virgin of Light) – found in the Museum of the Central Bank of Ecuador.
• El Señor Atado a la Columna con San Pedro a los Pies ("The Lord Tied to the Column with Saint Peter at his Feet").
• Virgin de los Dolores (Virgin of Sorrows).
• La Impresión de las Llagas de San Francisco ("The Stigmatization of Saint Francis") – in the Cantuña Chapel, Church of San Francisco.
• Virgen del Carmen (Virgin of Carmen) – in the Museo Franciscano.
• San José (Saint Joseph) – in the Museo Franciscano.
• La Coronación de la Virgen María ("The Coronation of the Virgin Mary") – in the Museo Franciscano.
• The group Del Tránsito de la Virgen (The Passing of the Virgin) – in a niche of San Antonio (Church of San Francisco).
• San José (Saint Joseph) – in the Church of San Agustín de Latacunga.
• Several sculptures of Franciscan saints.
• Many figures showing Christ on the Cross and the Christ Child.

See also

In Spanish: Manuel Chili Caspicara para niños