Juan Manuel Besnes e Irigoyen

Juan Manuel Besnes e Irigoyen
Born	(1789-07-12)12 July 1789 San Sebastián, Spain
Died	21 August 1865(1865-08-21) (aged 75) Montevideo, Uruguay
Nationality	Uruguayan of Basque origin
Known for	Painting, Calligraphy
Relatives	Joseph Besné Chavallie (father), María Antonia de Irigoyen Gaz (mother)

Juan Manuel Besnes e Irigoyen (July 12, 1789, San Sebastián – August 21, 1865, Montevideo) was a Uruguayan painter and calligrapher of Basque origin. He is regarded as one of the most influential artists in early Uruguayan art, playing a crucial role in the development of painting and calligraphy in the region. His works primarily focused on landscapes, portraits, and historical scenes, many of which depicted life in the Banda Oriental (later Uruguay).

Early life

Early Life Besnes e Irigoyen was born into a French-Basque family, the eldest of eight siblings. His father, Joseph Besné Chavallie, was French, while his mother, María Antonia de Irigoyen Gaz, was from Tolosa, Spain. Due to the anti-French sentiment in Spain during the Napoleonic Wars in 1808, Besnes altered his surname from "Besné" to "Besnes," incorporating his mother's surname when he relocated to Montevideo.

Career in Uruguay

After arriving in Montevideo in 1808, he worked in various administrative roles, potentially as a scribe for Governor Francisco Javier de Elío. His artistic career gained momentum through his detailed illustrations, maps, and paintings that documented the political and social landscape of the early 19th century in Uruguay. He was known for his innovative use of watercolors and ink, which he employed to capture the essence of the Uruguayan landscape and its inhabitants, including indigenous peoples and European settlers.

Artistic contributions

Besnes e Irigoyen contributed significantly to the field of calligraphy, being an active teacher and promoter of this art form in Uruguay. He also worked as an illustrator for historical and official documents, including the creation of illustrations for military maps during the Uruguayan War of Independence (1810–1830). His work is recognized for its historical importance, often serving as a visual record of Uruguayan history.

Legacy

He remained active in Montevideo's cultural scene throughout his life, becoming a respected figure among artists and intellectuals of his time. His art is housed in various museums in Uruguay, including the National Museum of Visual Arts in Montevideo, which showcases his drawings and paintings as part of Uruguay's cultural heritage.