Samuel Román Rojas
Chilean sculptor (1907–1990)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Samuel Román Rojas (December 8, 1907 - April 7, 1990) was a Chilean sculptor.[1] He won the National Prize of Art of Chile in 1964.[2]
Samuel Román Rojas | |
|---|---|
Sculpture at University of Concepción | |
| Born | December 8, 1907 Rancagua, Chile |
| Died | April 7, 1990 (aged 82) Santiago, Chile |
| Alma mater | University of Chile |
| Known for | Sculpture |
Román was born December 8, 1907 in Rancagua, Chile.[2] The town named him Favorite Son in 1956 and awarded him the Santa Cruz de Triana Medal.[2] In 1994 they began a regional painting competition named in his honor.[2]
In 1924 Román began studying sculpture at the School of Fine Arts at the University of Chile.[1] He studied under Carlos Lagarrigue and Virginio Arias among others.[1] After graduation in 1928 he became a professor of Sculpture and Molding at the school.[2] He held the position until 1949.[1]
He received a Humboldt scholarship in 1937 to study at the Berlin Academy.[1] While there he shared a studio with fellow Chileans José Perotti and Israel Roa.[1] His teachers included Ernst Barlach and Käthe Kollwitz.[2] Román undertook further studies in the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, and Italy.[2] During this time his work "The Bride of the Wind" won the prize of Honor at the International Exhibition.[1]
In 1939 Román served as Technical Advisor at the Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts. Along with Pablo Neruda,[1] he created the Pedro Aguirre Cerda School of Stonemasons in 1943.[2]
Román began additional travels to Europe in 1968.[1] He traveled to Germany, Belgium, Austria, Italy, and the Soviet Union.[1]
In 1971 he became the President of the Dismantling and Relocation Commission.[1] This position was responsible for relocating monuments affected by the construction of the Santiago Metro.[1] This position lasted until 1974.[1]
Román died in Santiago on April 7, 1990.[2] During his life he held multiple solo exhibitions in Santiago and Rancagua.[2] These included at the National Museum of Fine Arts, the Ministry of Education, and the House of Culture of Ñuñoa.[2] His work was included in group exhibitions held in Germany, Argentina, Brazil, and the United States.[2]
Awards and honors
source:[2]
- 1930 - Gold Medal, Official Salon of Valparaíso
- 1931 - First Prize, Valparaíso and Viña del Mar Week Salon
- 1932 - University of Chile Prize in Sculpture
- 1932 - Van Buren Competition Prize
- 1933 - National History Prize in Sculpture, Arturo M. Edwards Competition
- 1933 - Grand Prize, Club de la Unión, for best sculptural work
- 1933 - First Prize, Applied Arts, Viña del Mar Salon
- 1935 - First Category Prize, Official Salon, Santiago
- 1936 - Prize of Honor, Official Exhibition of Popular Art organized by the Ministry of Labor
- 1937 - First Medal, Marcial Martínez Cuadra Competition
- 1938 - Prize of Honor, International Exhibition of Applied Arts, Berlin
- 1938 - Prize of Honor, Sculpture Section, Official Exhibition of Viña del Mar
- 1940 - Grand Gold Medal, Chilean Sculpture Exhibition in Argentina
- 1940 - Prize of Honor, Sculpture Section, Official Exhibition of Viña del Mar
- 1944-1974 - member of the Council of National Monuments
- 1950 - Grand Honorary Prize, Fine Arts Salon of the Fourth Centenary of the Founding of the city of Concepción, Chile
- 1951 - Grand Prize for Studies and Publications, Madrid Biennial, Spain
- 1958 - appointed Academic Member of the Faculty of Arts
- 1980 - First Prize, Sculpture Competition, Centenary of the National Museum of Fine Arts, Santiago
- 1980 - Tribute from the University of the Americas, Santiago
Further reading
- Samuel Román: Anales de la U. de Chile Journal No. 136 (1965): year 123, Oct.-Dec., series 4
