Enrique Larreta
Encyclopedia
Enrique Rodríguez Larreta (March 4, 1875 — July 6, 1961) was an Argentine writer, academic, diplomat and art collector.
, he was married to Josefina Anchorena Castellanos, a daughter of one of most aristocratic, landowning families of Argentina
, the Anchorenas. They had five children; Mercedes, Enrique (b.1902), Josefina (b.1905), Agustin (b.1909) and Fernando (b.1911). He studied law, and graduated at the University of Buenos Aires
in 1897. He later taught medieval history at the Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires
, and worked as history teacher.
Larreta earned renown as a writer with La gloria de don Ramiro, one of the representative Argentine works of Hispanic modernism
, in 1908. Don Ramiro, a soldier during the time of Philip II of Spain
, embodies the Christian conflict between temporal needs and a more spiritual life. He then served as Ambassador to France from 1910 to 1919, and lived during 1915 and 1916 in Biarritz
, France and in Ávila, Spain, where he met Miguel de Unamuno
and a street now bears his name. As a playwright, his first piece, La lampe dargile, written in French, opened in Paris in 1917. This was followed by La luciernaga (1923; Firefly), El linyera (1932; The Bum), Santa Maria del Buen Ayre (1935), considered his best, and Tenia que suceder (1943; It had to Happen). He participated in the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929
, in Seville
, was a member of the National Academy of History of Argentina
, and of the Royal Spanish Academy, spending a large part of his later years in Madrid. The cities of Alcalá de Henares
, Madrid
and Segovia
also have streets named after him.
Larreta died in 1961, and was interred at La Recoleta Cemetery
. His home in Buenos Aires became the Museo de Arte Español Enrique Larreta
in 1962. Built by architect Ernesto Bunge in 1886, this Spanish colonial-styled house is graced with an Andalusia
n palace garden; an unusual oasis in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Buenos Aires. When Larreta came back from Europe and settled in the Belgrano
neighborhood he brought a vast collection of Spanish art
and furniture from France. The Renaissance and Baroque
collection gives the house the feel of a Spanish museum, and is mostly from the same period as his historical novel
, Don Ramiro .
Biography
Larreta was born in Buenos Aires to Adela Maza and Carlos Rodríguez Larreta. A member of a traditionally upper-class family from UruguayUruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
, he was married to Josefina Anchorena Castellanos, a daughter of one of most aristocratic, landowning families of Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, the Anchorenas. They had five children; Mercedes, Enrique (b.1902), Josefina (b.1905), Agustin (b.1909) and Fernando (b.1911). He studied law, and graduated at the University of Buenos Aires
University of Buenos Aires
The University of Buenos Aires is the largest university in Argentina and the largest university by enrollment in Latin America. Founded on August 12, 1821 in the city of Buenos Aires, it consists of 13 faculties, 6 hospitals, 10 museums and is linked to 4 high schools: Colegio Nacional de Buenos...
in 1897. He later taught medieval history at the Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires
Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires
Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires is a public high school in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In the tradition of the European gymnasium it provides a free education that includes classical languages such as Latin and Greek. The school is one of the most prestigious in Argentina...
, and worked as history teacher.
Larreta earned renown as a writer with La gloria de don Ramiro, one of the representative Argentine works of Hispanic modernism
Modernismo
Modernismo is Spanish for modernism, however the term Modernism also indicates a more specific art movement:* Modernismo refers to a Spanish-American literary movement, best exemplified by Rubén Darío...
, in 1908. Don Ramiro, a soldier during the time of Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
, embodies the Christian conflict between temporal needs and a more spiritual life. He then served as Ambassador to France from 1910 to 1919, and lived during 1915 and 1916 in Biarritz
Biarritz
Biarritz is a city which lies on the Bay of Biscay, on the Atlantic coast, in south-western France. It is a luxurious seaside town and is popular with tourists and surfers....
, France and in Ávila, Spain, where he met Miguel de Unamuno
Miguel de Unamuno
Miguel de Unamuno y Jugo was a Spanish essayist, novelist, poet, playwright and philosopher.-Biography:...
and a street now bears his name. As a playwright, his first piece, La lampe dargile, written in French, opened in Paris in 1917. This was followed by La luciernaga (1923; Firefly), El linyera (1932; The Bum), Santa Maria del Buen Ayre (1935), considered his best, and Tenia que suceder (1943; It had to Happen). He participated in the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929
Ibero-American Exposition of 1929
The Ibero-American Exposition of 1929 was a world's fair held in Seville, Spain, from the 9th of May 1929 until the 21st of June 1930. Countries in attendance of the exposition included: Portugal, The United States, Brazil, Uruguay, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Chile, the Republic of Colombia, Cuba,...
, in Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
, was a member of the National Academy of History of Argentina
National Academy of History of Argentina
The National Academy of History of the Argentine Republic is a non-profit learned society established to foster the study and dissemination of Argentine history.-Overview:...
, and of the Royal Spanish Academy, spending a large part of his later years in Madrid. The cities of Alcalá de Henares
Alcalá de Henares
Alcalá de Henares , meaning Citadel on the river Henares, is a Spanish city, whose historical centre is one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, and one of the first bishoprics founded in Spain...
, Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
and Segovia
Segovia
Segovia is a city in Spain, the capital of Segovia Province in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is situated north of Madrid, 30 minutes by high speed train. The municipality counts some 55,500 inhabitants.-Etymology:...
also have streets named after him.
Larreta died in 1961, and was interred at La Recoleta Cemetery
La Recoleta Cemetery
La Recoleta Cemetery is a famous cemetery located in the exclusive Recoleta neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It contains the graves of notable people, including Eva Perón, Raúl Alfonsín, and several presidents of Argentina.- History :...
. His home in Buenos Aires became the Museo de Arte Español Enrique Larreta
Museo de Arte Español Enrique Larreta
The Museo de Arte Español Enrique Larreta is a museum of Spanish art located in the Belgrano ward of Buenos Aires, Argentina.-Overview:The museum resulted from the purchase by the city of the Buenos Aires home of Enrique Larreta, perhaps the most prominent Argentine exponent of Hispanic modernism...
in 1962. Built by architect Ernesto Bunge in 1886, this Spanish colonial-styled house is graced with an Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
n palace garden; an unusual oasis in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Buenos Aires. When Larreta came back from Europe and settled in the Belgrano
Belgrano, Buenos Aires
Belgrano is a leafy, northern barrio or neighborhood of the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina.- Location :The barrio of Palermo is to the southeast; Nuñez is to the northwest; Coghlan, Villa Urquiza, Villa Ortúzar and Colegiales are to the southwest....
neighborhood he brought a vast collection of Spanish art
Spanish art
Spanish art is the visual art of Spain, and that of Spanish artists worldwide. Whilst an important contributor to Western art and producing many famous and influential artists Spanish art has often had distinctive characteristics and been assessed...
and furniture from France. The Renaissance and Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
collection gives the house the feel of a Spanish museum, and is mostly from the same period as his historical novel
Historical novel
According to Encyclopædia Britannica, a historical novel is-Development:An early example of historical prose fiction is Luó Guànzhōng's 14th century Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which covers one of the most important periods of Chinese history and left a lasting impact on Chinese culture.The...
, Don Ramiro .
Works
- Artemis, (1896)
- La Gloria de Don Ramiro: Una vida en tiempos de Felipe II, (1908; The Glory of Don Ramiro: A Life in the Times of Philip II)
- La que buscaba Don Juan (1923; The One Don Juan Sought), dated 1922, but first produced as "La luciérnaga" in 1923
- Zogoibi (1926; The Unfortunate One)
- Santa Maria del Buen Aire: Drama en tres actos, (1936)
- Las dos fundaciones de Buenos Aires, (1938)
- La calle de vida y de la muerte. Poesias, (1941)
- Tenia que suceder, (1943)
- La naranja (1948; The Orange), a volume of memoirs and essays
- Gerardo o la torre de las damas, (1953; Gerardo, or the Tower of the Ladies)
- Obras Completas, (1954)
- En la pampa (1955; On the Pampas)