Antonio Alice
Encyclopedia
Antonio Alice was an Argentine
portrait painter
. He was awarded the Prix de Rome
in 1904.
descent, was born in Buenos Aires
, Argentina
. His father, an Italian immigrant, was barely literate. His two sisters, Matilde and Santina, posed for several of his paintings.
Expelled from school and considered incorrigible for drawing in his textbooks, Alice went to work as a shoeblack
. At the age of 11, while sketching Gaucho
portraits between shoe shines, he was discovered by Cupertino del Campo, who went on to become the Director of the National Museum of Fine Arts of Buenos Aires
. Del Campo referred Alice to the painter, Decoroso Bonifanti who gave the boy his first painting lesson in 1897.
In 1904, he was awarded the Prix de Rome
(Premio Roma) and entered the Royal Academy of Painting in Turin
, studying under Giacomo Grosso, Francisco Gilardi, and Andrea Tavernier. During his four years at the Academy, he was awarded three Gold Medals.
, which received a Gold Medal at the
1910 Centenary of National Independence Exposition, was later purchased for display by the Salta Provincial Government
.
In 1915, he won the Medal of Honor in paintings at the Panama–Pacific International Exposition
in San Francisco, California
, USA. Three years later, he exhibited 60 Brazilian canvases in Rio de Janeiro
.
Alice painted several portraits of notable Argentines of his time, including General Julio Argentino Roca
, Joaquín Víctor González, and Marcelino Ugarte. Other important works were large canvases with the theme of patriotic exaltation, including "San Martín en Boulogne-sur-Mer, Argentina, Tierra de promisión, and Los Constituyentes de 1853.
Argentine people
Argentines are the citizens of Argentina, or their descendants abroad. Argentina is a multiethnic society, which means that it is home to people of many different ethnic backgrounds. According to the , Argentina had a population of 36,260,130 inhabitants, of which 1,527,320, or 4.2%, were born...
portrait painter
Portrait painting
Portrait painting is a genre in painting, where the intent is to depict the visual appearance of the subject. Beside human beings, animals, pets and even inanimate objects can be chosen as the subject for a portrait...
. He was awarded the Prix de Rome
Prix de Rome
The Prix de Rome was a scholarship for arts students, principally of painting, sculpture, and architecture. It was created, initially for painters and sculptors, in 1663 in France during the reign of Louis XIV. It was an annual bursary for promising artists having proved their talents by...
in 1904.
Early years
Alice, of ItalianItalian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
descent, was born in 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...
, 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...
. His father, an Italian immigrant, was barely literate. His two sisters, Matilde and Santina, posed for several of his paintings.
Expelled from school and considered incorrigible for drawing in his textbooks, Alice went to work as a shoeblack
Shoe polish
Shoe polish , usually a waxy paste or a cream, is a consumer product used to polish, shine, waterproof, and restore the appearance of leather shoes or boots, thereby extending the footwear's life...
. At the age of 11, while sketching Gaucho
Gaucho
Gaucho is a term commonly used to describe residents of the South American pampas, chacos, or Patagonian grasslands, found principally in parts of Argentina, Uruguay, Southern Chile, and Southern Brazil...
portraits between shoe shines, he was discovered by Cupertino del Campo, who went on to become the Director of the National Museum of Fine Arts of Buenos Aires
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (Buenos Aires)
The National Museum of Fine Arts is an Argentine art museum in Buenos Aires, located in the Recoleta section of the city. The MNBA inaugurated a branch in Neuquén in 2004.-History:...
. Del Campo referred Alice to the painter, Decoroso Bonifanti who gave the boy his first painting lesson in 1897.
In 1904, he was awarded the Prix de Rome
Prix de Rome
The Prix de Rome was a scholarship for arts students, principally of painting, sculpture, and architecture. It was created, initially for painters and sculptors, in 1663 in France during the reign of Louis XIV. It was an annual bursary for promising artists having proved their talents by...
(Premio Roma) and entered the Royal Academy of Painting in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, studying under Giacomo Grosso, Francisco Gilardi, and Andrea Tavernier. During his four years at the Academy, he was awarded three Gold Medals.
Career
At the 1908 Quadriennale di Torino, his Portrait of the Painter Decoroso Bonifanti won acclaim, and in 1911 in Buenos Aires, he received the painting prize at the 1st Salon Nacional de Bellas Artes for Portrait of a Lady. Salon des Artistes Français. San Martin en el destierro, painted in 1913 in Paris, is considered one of his best works. He was awarded the Silver Medal at the Salon des Artistes Français in 1914, which included an annually exhibited hors concours painting. His painting La muerte de GüemesMartín Miguel de Güemes
Martín Miguel de Güemes was a military leader and popular caudillo who defended northwestern Argentina from the Spanish during the Argentine War of Independence.-Biography:...
, which received a Gold Medal at the
1910 Centenary of National Independence Exposition, was later purchased for display by the Salta Provincial Government
Salta Province
Salta is a province of Argentina, located in the northwest of the country. Neighboring provinces are from the east clockwise Formosa, Chaco, Santiago del Estero, Tucumán and Catamarca. It also surrounds Jujuy...
.
In 1915, he won the Medal of Honor in paintings at the Panama–Pacific International Exposition
Panama–Pacific International Exposition
The Panama-Pacific International Exposition was a world's fair held in San Francisco, California between February 20 and December 4 in 1915. Its ostensible purpose was to celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal, but it was widely seen in the city as an opportunity to showcase its recovery...
in San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA. Three years later, he exhibited 60 Brazilian canvases in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
.
Alice painted several portraits of notable Argentines of his time, including General Julio Argentino Roca
Julio Argentino Roca
Alejo Julio Argentino Roca Paz was an army general who served as President of Argentina from 12 October 1880 to 12 October 1886 and again from 12 October 1898 to 12 October 1904.-Upbringing and early career:...
, Joaquín Víctor González, and Marcelino Ugarte. Other important works were large canvases with the theme of patriotic exaltation, including "San Martín en Boulogne-sur-Mer, Argentina, Tierra de promisión, and Los Constituyentes de 1853.