Doris M. Vázquez
Theme
José Campeche—The first native Puerto Rican painter.
Objective
Upon completing this lesson the students will be able to :
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1. Give facts about the life of José Campeche.
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2. Identity two of his paintings,
Don Miguel de Ustariz
and The Virgin of the Conception.
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3. Explain the situation of the island of Puerto Rico when Campeche lived.
Materials
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1. Copy of Campeche’s
Don Miguel de Ustariz
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2. Set of slides:
La Capilla del Santo Cristo
Procedure
Students will read or be read the life of Campeche as presented in the unit. They will discuss with their teacher the economic and political situation of Puerto Rico in the eighteenth century and how life may have been then. The students will then be shown the painting of
Don Miguel de Ustariz
and given the following questions:
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1. By looking at the man in the portrait, what may be his job?
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2. How is he dressed? Do men still dress like that today?
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3. What do you see on the table next to him?
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4. As you look out of the window, what do you see?
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5. What is the purpose of this painting? Is it a portrait, a landscape, or something else?
The painting of Don Miguel de Ustariz, Governor and Captain General, is when he was in charge of the paving of the streets in the city of San Juan. His dress is typical of the times of a high official. Out of the window is a scene of men busy working on the street. Further back in the background is what is now Cata–o. This painting is historical, while it is also a portrait, and a landscape in a way, its purpose is to record the event of the paving in San Juan and who was governor at the time. This painting is on display at the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture in San Juan. Upon showing the slides of La Capilla del Cristo, another painting,
The Virgin of the Conception
by Campeche will be seen. This lesson should last two class periods.