Fernando Botero Angulo is one of the most recognizable painters in Latin America. He developed a unique volumetric style, which was called "boterism". His works contain grotesque and kitsch.
Biography
Fernando was born in the Colombian city of Medellin on April 19, 1932. His family did not live well. Flora Angulo's mother worked as a seamstress in a factory, and David's father was a merchant. He often went on trips to buy goods, and brought gifts to children from other countries. When Fernando was four years old, his father brought a dog from another trip. The puppy was named Miaha in honor of the brave General Jose Giral Miach, who was greatly respected by David Botero. On the same day, the head of the family died of a heart attack.
Fernando drew well since childhood. As a teenager, he got a job at the editorial office of the newspaper El Colombiano. The young man illustrated articles, and also wrote several essays about the artist Pablo Picasso himself. The young man received his secondary education at a Jesuit college. After receiving his diploma, he went on a trip to Colombia. He spent one year in the capital, where he met influential artists of the time. Then the artist went to the coastal city of Tolu, which he compared to the legendary Tahiti of Paul Gauguin. There he painted the painting "Frente al mar", which in 1951 exhibited at the National Salon of Artists in Bogota. At this event, Botero sold several paintings.
Formation of corporate identity
In 1952 Botero went to Madrid. During the day, he sold his work in the central square in Madrid, and spent his free time among the masterpieces of the Prado Museum. He spent the summer of 1953 in Paris, and then moved to Rome. The artist was inspired by the Italian Renaissance. He absorbed the heritage of the masters and improved his skills. At that time, Botero created the work "The Room of a Married Couple". To create this picture, he was inspired by the painting of the palace of the princes of Mantua, which belongs to the pen of Andrea Mantegna. The painting was sold to the private collection of an anonymous businessman in Chicago.
In the 1950s, the artist discovers the concept of volume. He experiments with the forms of still lifes, giving them a trademark disproportionate volume. In 1956 he left for Mexico, home of the great artists Diego Rivera and Alejandro Obregon. In 1960, Botero moved to New York, where avant-garde art and abstraction were born. His style was influenced by Jackson Pollock and Franz Kline. The artist began experimenting with aggressive brush strokes, rich colors and large format canvases. He has held exhibitions in Europe, USA and Colombia.
In the 1960s, Botero began pilgrimages around the world in search of inspiration. World fame grew. In 1966, he held his first European exhibition in Germany, and since then he has never stopped exhibiting his work in the largest museums in the world. Today the artist is the author of 3000 paintings and several hundred sculptures. He donated many paintings to museums in Bogota and Medellin. At 82 years old, Botero is one of the most significant artists in the world, constantly exhibiting work on three of the five continents.
Famous paintings by Fernando Botero:
- Melancholy, 1989
- "Letter", 1976
- The Death of Pablo Escobar, 1999
- "Breakfast on the Grass", 1969
- Mona Lisa, 1977
Sculpture by Fernando Botero
Since 1973 Botero has tried his hand at sculpture. His works can be seen in many European cities: Madrid, Frankfurt am Main, Barcelona, Paris. He became the most sought-after living sculptor on the planet.
Botero was the first artist in history to have the honor of exhibiting his work on the most famous avenues and squares in the world: Champs Elysees in Paris, Rambla del Raval in Barcelona, Commerce square in Lisbon, Piazza della Signoria in Florence, opposite the Palace of the Grace arts in Mexico City.
Fernando Angulo Botero's wife and children
In 1955, the painter returned to Colombia. He met Gloria Zea Hernandez, director of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Bogota. A romance broke out between the young people. The woman gave birth to Fernando three children: Fernando, Lina and Juan Carlos. Their marriage lasted five years.
Fernando Botero's eldest son Zea became Minister of Defense under President Ernesto Sampere. He was the campaign manager for Samper's presidential campaign. Botero Zea accepted money from the Cali cartel to import a large shipment of assault rifles from Israel. For this, the cartel donated $ 6 million for the election campaign. In 1996, a scandalous process began, which was named "Process 8000". As a result, Fernando went to prison for 3 years. Now he is in Mexico and received the citizenship of that country.
In 1963, the artist married for the second time. Cecilia Zambrano became his chosen one. They lived together until 1975. The girl became the main muse of the painter. He returned to soft, delicate colors in canvases and depictions of women in the Rubens style. Cecilia gave birth to a son, Pedro, who died at a young age in a car accident.
In 1978, Botero married Sophia Vari. The woman is also engaged in sculpture. Her works are kept in permanent collections of important museums such as the Vasilisa and Eliza Goulandris Art Museum in Athens, the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, and the Pera Museum in Istanbul. The couple lives in Italy.
