Jesús Fructuoso Contreras

Jesús Fructuoso Contreras Chávez (January 20, 1866 – July 13, 1902)[1] was a Mexican sculptor. He has been called the most "representative sculptor of late 19th century Mexico".[2]

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Contreras and the second or maternal family name is Chávez.
Jesús Fructuoso Contreras
Photograph of Jesús F. Contreras
Born
Jesús Fructuoso Contreras

(1866-01-20)January 20, 1866
Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico
DiedJuly 13, 1902(1902-07-13) (aged 36)
Mexico City, Mexico
NationalityMexican
Known forSculpture

Biography

Jesús Fructuoso Contreras was born in Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes on 20 January 1866. Contreras received his primary education at Placido Jimenez's school, where he studied drawing. Such was his success that at 14 years, his classmates and teachers supported him to continue his studies at the National School of Fine Arts in Mexico City. At the age of 21, he was given a scholarship by the government to study in Paris. He was a nephew of José María Chávez Alonso.[1]

Due to the support he received from the government of Porfirio Diaz, he was able to work on various monuments, including twenty bronze sculptures on the Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City. With support from the government of Aguascalientes, Contreras founded the Fundición Artística Mexicana,[1] where some of the sculptures on Paseo de la Reforma were created. While in Paris, his left arm was amputated as a result of ill-attended cancer.[1] He died in Mexico City on 13 July 1902, at age 36.

Legacy

An homage by the Government of Guanajuato City was held in January 2016 to celebrate the 150 year anniversary of Contreras' birth.[2] In November 2016, the Patio de Jesús F. Contreras was inaugurated in the Historic Center of Aguascalientes City;[3] a public space that includes several of Contreras' works.

References
  1. "Gobierno del Estado de Aguascalientes". www.aguascalientes.gob.mx. Gobierno del Estado de Aguascalientes. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  2. "Rendirán homenaje al autor del Monumento de la Plaza de la Paz - Guanajuato Capital". www.guanajuatocapital.gob.mx. Presidencia Municipal Guanajuato. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  3. "Inauguran el Patio Jesús F. Contreras en el Centro Histórico - La Jornada Aguascalientes (LJA.mx)". lja.mx (in Spanish). La Jornada Aguascalientes. 30 November 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
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