| Tito Salas | |
|---|---|
Tito Salas in the mid 1930s |
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| Birth name | Británico Antonio Salas Díaz |
| Born | 8 May 1887 Caracas, Venezuela |
| Died | 18 March 1974 (aged 86) Caracas, Venezuela |
| Nationality | Venezuelan |
| Field | Painting |
Británico Antonio Salas Díaz, better known as Tito Salas (Caracas, 8 May 1887 - 18 March 1974), was a Venezuelan painter.
His father, José Antonio Salas, was one of the first traders who established a brewery in Venezuela. The studies of Tito, began in the Academy of Fine Arts of Caracas. After winning first place in the annual competition of this institution in 1901, travels to Paris in 1905, studying in the Académie Julian, having as teacher painter Jean Paul Laurens. Also attended the Académie de la Grande Chaumière. The same year, submitted a work to the official Salon in Paris. In 1906, won a gold medal for his painting La San Genaro. During this period, traveled to Italy, where was impressed by the works of painters Tiepolo, Tintoretto, Titian. Especially, for the historical topics cultivated by them.
Between 1907 and 1908, traveled to Spain, where painted a series of works based on the observation of scenes and customs. In 1908, obtained the gold medal at the Brussels Expo. Returned to Venezuela in 1911 with the work Tríptico de Simón Bolívar, which is currently in the Federal Palace in Caracas. In 1913, historian Vincente Lecuna, who was in charge of the restoration of Simón Bolívar birthplace house, entrusted Tito Salas for the decoration of the walls, with scenes from the life of Bolívar. During this years, Salas produced among others, the following paintings: La emigración a Oriente, El Matrimonio de Bolívar y María Teresa, La Expedición de los Cayos, El terremoto de 1812. Upon completion of his work in the Bolívar's house in 1931, Salas is commissioned for the National Pantheon, ending in 1942.
Although his work as painter of historical topics has overshadowed his labor as landscaper, Salas is one of the artists who contributed to the development of modern art in Venezuela since 1900. Towards the end of his life, in his colonial house of Petare, worked intensively in medium and small format paintings. In 1970, painted for the presidential residence La Casona, in Caracas, a work entitled Los Causahabientes, which represents the Venezuelan presidents of the XIX century.