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Argentina artists illustrating boys fashions: Latin American countries
Argentine Artists: Benjamin Franklin Rawson (1819/20-1871)
Figure 1.--This is a Benjamin Franlklin Rawson portrait of the Crilio Sarmiento family (1855). We nothing about the family exceot yht they mist be related to Rawson's friend and president Domingo Faustino Sarmiento. The two boys look as they are wearing tunic suits with lace collars and bows, European styles. The blue tunic looks to be velvet. One probably bothnare are worn with white long pants. The boys look look to be about 3-5 years old. Notice the book. President Sarmiento was especially known for his promotion of education.
Benjamin Franklin Rawson was an Argentine painter, whom mostly date to the post-coloniai era. They are known as the 'precursors'. He painted both portaits and politiclly oriented pieces. Benjamin was born in San Juan (1819/20). Sean Juan is located in western Argentina, a valley east of the high Andes. The city is also the birthplace of President Domingo Faustino Sarmiento (1811-88). Benjamin was the eldest son United States-born doctor Amán Rawson (1792-1847). It is not entirely clear how Dr. Rawson wound up in the Andes. He was a U.S. Navy sugeon. Naval officers were not well paid so Rawson was interested in commerce. That apparently led hin to Argentuna where he both practiced medicine and became involved in Argentina's turbulent political affairs. He married Justiuna Rojo y Fríasafter convertying to Catholcism (1819). He never practiced his new religion. Benjamin's brother Guillermo Rawson was born (1821). He became a physician and politician who served as Interior Minister under President Bartolomé Mitre. Benjamin studied with Sarmiento, although older, they became lifelong friends. Their mutual interes in art was a factor here. Benjamim was esoecially interested in paintung and studied under Amadeo Gras and Pierre Douet. He became assocjated with the San Juan Plastic Movement promoted by the Philharmonic Dramatic Society, which had been founded by Sarmiento. His father when Benjamin turned 18 yeras old sent him to Buenos Aires to pursue artistic studies. He studied under Fernando García del Molino and learned portrait and miniature painting. Two of his eraliest works were a self-portrait (1838) and one of his brother (1838). After completing his studies in Buenos Aires, he reyrned to San Juan. His involvement in politics is unclear, but his father and brother were deeply involved. And as close friend of Sarmiento, he was forced to seek political refuge in Chile (1842). In Argentina chaotic politivs, it was the furst of three exiles. Rawson used exile to continue his artistic studies. He studied under French artist Raymons Augusto Quinsac Monvoisin (1790-1870). He was a highly regarded young French artist who for some reason came to Chile (1842). Procesa, Sarmiento's sister, also studied with Monvoisin. [Sarmiento] Rawson married Paz Mendieta (1847). The had a son, Franklin, whi died in infancy. Rawsom returned to San Juan and was elected a provincial deputy (1847). Apparently he ws more interested in his painging. He resigned moved to Buenos Aires to coninue his art careet. He studied with Martín Boneo.paintung portraits and historical works. He showed his historical works in Nuenos Aires. Sarmiento claimed he was the best painter of his time. We suspect their frirndship was a factor in his assessment. We sould noe jusge vRawson as a master artist, byt he was not a naive artist other. His acreer seems to have oeaked at this time. He had trouble dinding lucrative commissioins for his portraits. Darguerreotype stusios had begun to ooen in Buenos Aires. An oartists ujnless hey were very good had trouble competing. Rawson died in Buenos Aires (1871). He was a victims of a yellow fever epidemic.
Sources
Sarmiento, Domingo Faustino. Recuerdos de provincia (Memories of the province).
