La Reconquista de Buenos Aires
Encyclopedia
La Reconquista de Buenos Aires is an Argentine portrait
by Charles Fouqueray in 1909. It depicts the victory of Santiago de Liniers
against William Carr Beresford
during the first of the British invasions of the Río de la Plata
, and the subsequent liberation of Buenos Aires
from British rule. It was made in the proximity of the Argentina Centennial
.
. The director of it, Adolfo Carranza
, considered that the history of Argentina
started during the May Revolution
and that the previous events were not part of it, and that Santiago de Liniers
should not be homaged because of being an enemy of it, when he led an ill-fated counter-revolution
against the Primera Junta
that took government after it. Carranza had also conflictive relations with Bartolomé Mitre
, who created the commission in 1896.
As a result, there was little artistic productions related with the British Invasions, in comparison with the Argentine War of Independence
. Even more, Britain was a strong ally of Argentina during that time. The picture, however, was not intended to represent a rejection of Britain, but rather a triumph of the Spanish armies.
The portrait was held at the Casa Rosada
, later moved to a wing of the National Historical Museum, and it's currently held at the Buenos Aires Cabildo
.
, leader of the British forces, surrenders to Santiago de Liniers
, leader of the Spanish ones. In the scene despicted, Beresford offers his sword to the victorious general, which Liniers gently refuses.
Argentine painting
Argentine painting refers to all the pictorial production done in the territory of Argentina throughout the centuries.-Pre-Columbian painting:...
by Charles Fouqueray in 1909. It depicts the victory of Santiago de Liniers
Santiago de Liniers
Jacques de Liniers was a French officer in the Spanish military service, and a viceroy of the Spanish colonies of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. He is more widely known by the Spanish form of his name, Santiago de Liniers...
against William Carr Beresford
William Beresford, 1st Viscount Beresford
General William Carr Beresford, 1st Viscount Beresford, 1st Marquis of Campo Maior, GCB, GCH, GCTE, PC , was a British soldier and politician...
during the first of the British invasions of the Río de la Plata
British invasions of the Río de la Plata
The British invasions of the Río de la Plata were a series of unsuccessful British attempts to seize control of the Spanish colonies located around the La Plata Basin in South America . The invasions took place between 1806 and 1807, as part of the Napoleonic Wars, when Spain was an ally of...
, and the subsequent liberation of Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
from British rule. It was made in the proximity of the Argentina Centennial
Argentina Centennial
The Argentina Centennial was celebrated on May 25, 1910. It was the 100th anniversary of the May Revolution, when viceroy Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros was ousted from office and replaced with the Primera Junta, the first national government.-Context:...
.
Creation
The painting, as well as "La Defensa de Buenos Aires", were requested to the French artist Charles Fouqueray in 1906, by Ángel Estrada. The portrait was done outside of the network of portrait productions managed by the National Historical Museum in the proximity of the Argentina CentennialArgentina Centennial
The Argentina Centennial was celebrated on May 25, 1910. It was the 100th anniversary of the May Revolution, when viceroy Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros was ousted from office and replaced with the Primera Junta, the first national government.-Context:...
. The director of it, Adolfo Carranza
Adolfo Carranza
Adolfo Carranza was an Argentine lawyer, public official, historian, and writer who established the National Historical Museum.-Life and times:...
, considered that the history of Argentina
History of Argentina
The history of Argentina is divided by historians into four main parts: the pre-Columbian time, or early history , the colonial period , the independence wars and the early post-colonial period of the nation and the history of modern Argentina .The beginning of prehistory in the present territory of...
started during the May Revolution
May Revolution
The May Revolution was a week-long series of events that took place from May 18 to 25, 1810, in Buenos Aires, capital of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, a Spanish colony that included roughly the territories of present-day Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay...
and that the previous events were not part of it, and that Santiago de Liniers
Santiago de Liniers
Jacques de Liniers was a French officer in the Spanish military service, and a viceroy of the Spanish colonies of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. He is more widely known by the Spanish form of his name, Santiago de Liniers...
should not be homaged because of being an enemy of it, when he led an ill-fated counter-revolution
Liniers Counter-revolution
When the May Revolution took place in Buenos Aires in 1810, the former viceroy Santiago de Liniers led an ill-fated counter-revolutionary attempt from the city of Córdoba. It was quickly thwarted by the patriotic forces from Buenos Aires led by Ortiz de Ocampo, who captured the leaders and...
against the Primera Junta
Primera Junta
The Primera Junta or First Assembly is the most common name given to the first independent government of Argentina. It was created on 25 May 1810, as a result of the events of the May Revolution. The Junta initially had representatives from only Buenos Aires...
that took government after it. Carranza had also conflictive relations with Bartolomé Mitre
Bartolomé Mitre
Bartolomé Mitre Martínez was an Argentine statesman, military figure, and author. He was the President of Argentina from 1862 to 1868.-Life and times:...
, who created the commission in 1896.
As a result, there was little artistic productions related with the British Invasions, in comparison with the Argentine War of Independence
Argentine War of Independence
The Argentine War of Independence was fought from 1810 to 1818 by Argentine patriotic forces under Manuel Belgrano, Juan José Castelli and José de San Martín against royalist forces loyal to the Spanish crown...
. Even more, Britain was a strong ally of Argentina during that time. The picture, however, was not intended to represent a rejection of Britain, but rather a triumph of the Spanish armies.
The portrait was held at the Casa Rosada
Casa Rosada
La Casa Rosada is the official seat of the executive branch of the government of Argentina, and of the offices of the President. The President normally lives at the Quinta de Olivos, a compound in Olivos, Buenos Aires Province. Its characteristic color is pink, and is considered one of the most...
, later moved to a wing of the National Historical Museum, and it's currently held at the Buenos Aires Cabildo
Buenos Aires Cabildo
The Buenos Aires Cabildo is the public building in Buenos Aires that was used as seat of the ayuntamiento during the colonial times and the government house of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata...
.
Description
The portrait has the traditional French style of military historical portraits made during the 19th century. It was done with a strong dramatic style. Diego de la Bragaña lies dead in the floor at the bottom center of the portrait, the people help injured ones at the right side, and most of them wear bandages. In the center of the portrait, William Carr BeresfordWilliam Beresford, 1st Viscount Beresford
General William Carr Beresford, 1st Viscount Beresford, 1st Marquis of Campo Maior, GCB, GCH, GCTE, PC , was a British soldier and politician...
, leader of the British forces, surrenders to Santiago de Liniers
Santiago de Liniers
Jacques de Liniers was a French officer in the Spanish military service, and a viceroy of the Spanish colonies of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. He is more widely known by the Spanish form of his name, Santiago de Liniers...
, leader of the Spanish ones. In the scene despicted, Beresford offers his sword to the victorious general, which Liniers gently refuses.