Francisco Narváez

Francisco Narvaez was born in Porlamar, Nueva Esparta State on October 4, 1905 and died in Caracas on July 07, 1982. He was an important painter and sculptor of 10th century. According to some historians of Venezuelan art, the work of Narvaez change the way of sculpture is seem in Venezuela. His parents were Jose Lorenzo Narvaez, a cabinetmaker, master of building, and restorer of religious works, and Vicenta Emilia Rivera, born in Porlamar. His early formal studies were in the Academy of Fine Arts in Caracas. In 1928, He went to Paris to study in the Académie Julian the place where he comes into contact with the artistic movement of Montparnasse. Among the artists that exercised a strong influence in Narvaez during that period there is Raoul Dufy, Chaim Soutine, Amedeo Modigliani and Moïse Kisling.

When he returned to Venezuela in 1931, Narvaez found out the fact that his artistic proposal broke aesthetic schemes of the century.  This has motivated him to create a sculptural language by his own, related with the national roots, praising the beauty of its ethnic elements. In addition he was famous for pioneering the utilization of the great variety of woods in the country, and the first using the native stones known as: “Cumarebo” and ‘Araya”.

Works and contributions

• In 1934 he made the fountain of Carabobo Park, Caracas.
• Between 1937 and 1939 he created many relieves on the facades of the Fine Arts Museum and the Natural Sciences Museum in Caracas.
• In 1943 he made his most iconic work called ‘Las Toninas”. A fountain placed in O’Leary square, Caracas.
• Between 1949 and 1952 he carried out several works for the University City of Caracas including the Frescoes for the chapel of the University. 
• In 1952 he made an equestrian statue of General Rafael Urdaneta located in La Candelaria square, Caracas. A year later he was appointed director of the school of Plastic and Applied Arts of Caracas.
• In 1954 he represented Venezuela in Venice’s biennial, Italy. In short Narvaez initiated a totally different way to see the sculpture in Venezuela.
• In 1979 he participated with Hector Poleo representing Venezuela in the second international encounter of contemporary Art in the Grand Palais of Paris. The same year, he inaugurated the Museum of Contemporary Art  Francisco Narvaez in Porlamar, for which the artist donate a series of works (35 sculptures, 11 paintings and some silkscreen printings).
• In 1981 he carried out the monumental sculpture Gran Volumen for the LAGOVEN, SA Company in the Amuay plant and, in 1982 he finished one of his last works, the sculpture Armonía de Volúmenes y Espacios made for Caracas Metro, CA. 

Awards

• He received the Craftsmanship Exhibition Award of Sucre State for his work "Juego de Muebles en Miniatura", 1916.
• "Presidente de la Republica de Venezuela" Award, created by General Eleazar Lopez Contreras, 1939.
• National Award of Sculpture in the 1st Official Hall of Venezuelan Art, 1940.
• "John Boulton" Award in the 3rd Official Hall of Venezuelan Art, 1942.
• National Painting Award in the 9th Official Hall of Venezuelan Art, 1948.
• Appointed Director of the Plastic and Applied Arts of Caracas, 1953.
• He was decorated with "La Orden del Libertador en Grado de Caballero", in 1955.
• Decorated with "La Orden Francisco de Miranda" in First Class, 1976.
• "Museum of Contemporary Art Francisco Narvaez" in Porlamar, inaugurated in his honour in 1979.