Jose Campeche
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José Campeche (1751-1809), was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Campeche is the first known Puerto Rican artist and one of its best. His father was a restorer and painter of religiious statues and had an early influence on the younger Campeches interest in the arts. He was trained by Luis Paret, a Spanish court painter banished from Spain.
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José Campeche distinguished himself with his paintings related to religious themes and of governors and other important personalities. His most famous paintings are the portraits of Juan Alejo de Arizmendi, Ramon de Castro and Miguel A. de Ustariz and The Virgin of Belen,The Virgin of the Rosary, Saint John the Baptist, The Sacred Family, The Bishop of San Francisco de la Cuerda, The Vision of Saint Anthonyand The Shipwreck of Power in honor of Ramon Power y Giralt.
The Puerto Rican society of the times appreciated Campeches personal and artistic merits. He was considered the most gifted of the Latin-American Rococo artist.
José Campeche's works of art can be found today in museums, churches and private collections in Puerto Rico and Venezuela.
Jose Campeche died in the City of San Juan on November 7, 1809
There is a Jose Campeche Sala located in the Ancient Dominican Convent in "Old San Juan, Puerto Rico where some of his works can be seen and appreciated by the general public. Puerto Rico has schools and avenues named after Campeche to honor his memory. The Jose Campeche High School is located in San Lorenzo. Manuel Gregorio Tavarez composed a funeral march "Redencion" in Campeches honor. Puerto Rico's greatest grafic artist Lorenzo Homar also created a work of art to honor Campeche.