Emilio Jacinto Mauri Ivern (9 March 1855, La Guaira - 18 February 1908, Caracas) was a Venezuelan painter who specialized in portraits; mostly of an historical nature.
Biography
His father was Spanish and his mother was French. After 1861, his family lived in Nantes, where he began his education at the local Jesuit school. He originally planned to pursue a career in medicine and worked at the hospital there, but eventually decided to devote himself to painting instead.[1]
During this time, he received "Honorable Mention" for an exhibition at the Salon. Later, he received a commission from the Ministry of Public Instruction to restore the frescos at the palace of the Marquis de Saint Paul.
In 1874, upon the invitation of President Antonio Guzmán Blanco, he returned to the country of his birth to participate in ongoing cultural reforms. In 1883, he exhibited at the "Exposición Nacional de Venezuela", celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Simón Bolívar, winning a bronze medal.[2] In 1884, as the result of his work in Paris, he was commissioned to do restoration at the "Church of Our Lady Of Mercy" in Caracas.
Three years later, he was named the first Director of the new "Academia Nacional de Bellas Artes de Caracas", modelled after its French counterpart. He held that position until his death.[2] In 1893, he showed several canvases at the
World Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
