Venezuelan Culture (1830-1935)
Education
In the early years of the Republic (1830-), education was limited, with centers at the universities of Caracas and Mérida. Provincial National Schools, founded by the Colombian government, also existed. Dr. José María Vargas and Juan Manuel Cajigal championed the creation of new schools. The 1830 Congress decreed that primary education be managed by each province, leading to the establishment of elementary schools in major towns.
The National Library’s creation in 1833, under General Páez, marked a significant step. In 1870, General Antonio Guzmán Blanco decreed free and compulsory primary education, regulating textbook printing and categorizing schools as federal or sectional. He reorganized the Central University, promoted science, created the Institute of Fine Arts and the Natural History Museum, and founded the Venezuelan Academy of Literature.
Guzmán Blanco also established the first colleges nationwide and sent promising students abroad for advanced training, intending they return to educate the populace. However, inconsistent 19th-century policies hindered educational progress. Six colleges and 1014 federal schools operated during this period, with national schools categorized into three levels. By 1881-1882, universities functioned in Caracas, Mérida, Valencia, and Maracaibo.
Education was not prioritized under General Cipriano Castro (early 20th century), with the University of Zulia even being closed. General Juan Vicente Gómez’s rule also saw temporary closures of the University of Caracas for political reasons. Upon Gómez’s death, the educational situation remained largely unchanged from 1927, with little official attention given to education during his later years.
The late period saw the creation of important cultural institutions: the Venezuelan Academy of Language, the National Academy of History, the Academy of Fine Arts, the Medical Academy, the Academy of Political and Social Sciences, and the Academy of Physical, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences. These institutions complemented the cultural activities of the Museum of Fine Arts, the Public Library, and the Conservatory of Music.
Science and Technology
Scientific and technological research played a crucial cultural role. Notable figures include:
- Dr. José María Vargas: Reorganized Caracas University, modernized medical school, and promoted education during his presidency.
- José Gregorio Hernández: Held chairs of Histology, Physiology, and Bacteriology at Central University and co-founded the Academy of Medicine.
Literature
- Andrés Bello: Considered the patriarch of American letters. Works like “Silva to the Agriculture of the Torrid Zone” established his place in Venezuelan and Latin American poetry. Other works include “The Prayer for All,” “Dance,” and “Address to Poetry.”
- Rafael Barret: Known for the History of Venezuela and the Dictionary of Gallic.
- Cecilio Acosta: Known for polished works like The Dewdrop, La Casita Blanca, and Vespers, which rank among the best of Latin American poetry.
Painting and Sculpture
One of the most splendid art forms that reached during these years were the visual arts. The painting had a strong relationship with the different styles prevalent in Europe, which was visited Venezuelan painters.
There were two remarkable artists, precursors of the large painting of Venezuela. They were Juan Lovera and Carmelo Fernandez. The works of the former have a historical character: On 19 April and on 5 July 1811. In these highlights from each individual the principal characters of such events. The second makes a work of a military nature, being an excellent draftsman and watercolorist. Venezuela Illustrated History of Barak and Diaz.
Averaging the nineteenth century raises three giants of painting:
Martin Tovar, Arturo Michelena, Cristobal de Rojas, which will be specified later his work.
Of the painters of the century and the twentieth century stand out: Tito Salas, Carlos Otero, Francisco Valdez, Antonio Esteban Frias, Francisco Sanchez, Alvarez Cruz Salas and clear example of the time Emilio Boogie.
The painting in the early twentieth century has its nucleus at the Circulo de Bellas Artes de Caracas, founded in 1912, there are present Marcelo Vidal, Manuel Cabré, Rafael Monasteries, Raul Santana, Federico Brandt, Manuel Fernandez and others who gave their name Venezuela to painting.
The sculpture was not much cultivated during this time. The few sculptors who had cultivated the styles prevalent in Europe, Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Naturalism and Realism. Made important individual works, but were not able to achieve a movement of importance. Only from Guzmán Blanco and at the founding of the Academy of Fine Arts in 1877 is increased somewhat sculptural creation.
Among the most outstanding sculptors must cite Eloy Palacios, Lorenzo Gonzalez and Andres Perez Mujica, which further specified the work.
Other sculptors were: Pedro María Basalo, Carlos Alvarez Garcia and Isaac Poletto, all with excellent sculptures scattered cities across the country.
IN THE MUSIC
At the end of the colony had been a remarkable flowering of music. Speaking of the Academies and lead to a greater degree of importance. In this field of art to be highlighted;
Juan Manuel Olivares, Father Pedro Palacios y Sojo, Angel Lamas, Juan Jose Landaeta, Cayetano Carreno those living the war years and made even after her compositions.
Among the most prominent composers include:
Vicente Emilio Sojo, Juan Bautista Plaza, Jose Antonio Calcaño, Miguel Angel and Juan Vicente Calcaño Lecuna, all because of this century.
A notable music in the last century was the extraordinary singer and pianist Teresa Carreno, who has traveled around the world bearing the name of Venezuela’s most famous concert halls and other sites devoted to music.
There is established the Gloria al Bravo Pueblo as the National Anthem of Venezuela.