Nicanor Plaza

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Nicanor Plaza

Nicanor Plaza (* 1844 in Santiago de Chile ; † December 7, 1918 in Florence ) was a Chilean sculptor and, along with José Miguel Blanco, is considered the founder of an independent Chilean sculpture.

Live and act

In 1858, Plaza attended the first course for sculptors at the Academia de Bellas Artes directed by Auguste François . Based on a recommendation from Benjamin Vicuña Mackenna , he received a scholarship from the Chilean government in 1863 to study in France and continued his training at the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts with François Jouffroy . One of his first better-known works was Caupolicán , the statue of a Mohican, which he created for a competition in the USA and, after it was not considered there, exhibited in Chile in 1867, where it won a prize.

In 1867, Plaze went into business for himself as a sculptor with his own workshop. During this time he was influenced by the works of the North American sculptor Hiram Powers . In 1872 he succeeded Augusto François as director of the Academia de Bellas Artes . He held this position until 1899, during which time he taught students such as Virginio Arias , Ernesto Concha and Simón González . During this time he created more than 90 works, including three public monuments, three groups of sculptures, twenty-five statues as well as busts and medallions. His last major work, La Quimera , was created in 1897 and was awarded a prize in a competition organized by Alberto Edwards .

In 1900 he went back to Paris and finally settled in Italy. The outbreak of World War I forced him to return to Chile in 1914. In old age he developed arthritis and lost both hands and one arm. He died in a hospital in Florence in 1918.

Works

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personal data
SURNAME Plaza, Nicanor
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Chilean sculptor
DATE OF BIRTH 1844
PLACE OF BIRTH Santiago de Chile
DATE OF DEATH December 7, 1918
Place of death Florence