Luis Felipe Jaspe del Real Franco (April 3, 1846 – 1918) was a Colombian architect[1] and portrait painter.[2]
Jaspe was born in Cartagena.[1] During his formative years Jaspe travelled to Martinique to get acquainted with its European-inspired architecture.[1] Nonetheless, he did not pursue any formal training in architecture.[3]
In 1888, the Mayor of Cartagena put Jaspe in charge of the construction of a tower on top of the city walls, which was to be engrained with a large watch.[1][4] This neogothic tower has become since its completion a symbol of Cartagena.[4]
In 1904 Jaspe designed Cartagena's main market alongside the bay of Cartagena.[5][3] Later he would be put in charge of building the Adolfo Mejía Theater. Between 1903 and 1916 Jaspe designed the Saint Jerome Cathedral in Montería.[6]
As a painter, one of his main pieces of work is a 1874 oil painting depicting the execution of nine local martyrs.[5] As an amateur photographer he contributed to a recently-found archive of old photos of Cartagena.[7]
