Juan Bautista Vermay ,French (1784-1833)

 

Born in Tournay, France, on October 15, 1784, painter pupil of the classic David, who also suffered exile because of the defeat of Napoleon, were forced to leave France and chose as his second home to Cuba Vermay soon was associated with the best leading element of the country, He made several paintings and I think initialization School "San Alejandro" of which he was its first director. Despite his status as a foreigner, sympathized with the Cuban revolutionary sentiment. He became pained by the spirit that prevailed of absolutism of European kings and it was natural for him to combated it . So it is not surprising friendship with the Cuban poet Jose Maria Heredia, the first exiled for the revolutionary struggles of Cuba By order of the Captain General Vives, Vermay painted three historical canvases for the Templete. in the first is represented the Mass celebrated by Bishop Espada in commemoration of the first mass celebrated in Cuba by Father de Las Casas, under the big ceiba, found by Colon. When Vermay painted the canvas the ceiba no longer existed, since one of the proud Captain General of the colony, Cagigal de la Vega, in 1753 ordered it cut down. The English government, to demonstrate their love for the past that has much merit, cut part of the trunk and carried it to be showed at the Museum of London. The mural painted by Vermay has a hundred portraits of the most famous characters of the time: Bishop Espada, appear with the Captain General Vives, Los Condes de Fernadilla, Los Cañongo, O'Reilly, O'Gavan have, Montalvo, The towers and Cardenas, among others. The City Council appears in full,and Vermay himself, crayon in hand taking notes for the painting. In the group of women is the artist's wife, Madame Louise Lon Parceval.

The second painting represents the first Mass of the founding of the city of Havana, under the famous ceiba , Mass in wich Father Las Casas officiated, accompanied by his followers and by the spanish warriors of that epoch. Vermay had been permanently installed in Cuba, passionate and warm earth and in it He left his succession. The artist died on March 30, 1833.