Artist Biography: Ricardo Gómez Campuzano born 25 September, 1891 in Bogotá, Columbia. Painter. A direct descendant of Don Antonio Nariño. First taught painting by sister Inelda at La Presentación he was expelled for restlessness and entered the Bogotá Council Seminary where, after the Father Superior discovered his note and prayer books were full with sketches and drawings he was again sent home. Doña María de Jesús, aware of Ricardo’s love for painting, installed a studio for him, placing him under the tutelage of the master Ricardo Borrero (1874-1931) who was an eminent landscape painter of the time. Andrés de Santa María Hurtado (Columbia, 1860-1945) invited Campuzano to participate in the first centenary of National Independence in 1910 where he would receive an honorable mention. Campuzano then entered the School of Fine Arts in Bogotá, with Master Andrés de Santamaría as director; his teachers here were Ricardo Acevedo Bernal, Ricardo Moros (1865-1942) Ricardo Borrero Álvarez (1874-1913), Roberto Páramo (1859-1939) and Francisco Antonio Cano (1865-1935). Campuzano retained first prize for painting at the School in 1911 and 1912 over classmates Eugenio Zerda and Miguel Díaz Vargas ( 1886 – 1926) and received a first scholarship to improve his studies in Europe. In 1921 he received a further scholarship to study at the San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Madrid under Don Manuel Benedito, Julio Romero de Torres and Cecelio Pla alongside fellow artists Eugenio Hermosa, Ruiz de Luna, Eduardo Chicharro and Salvador Dali. While in Spain he was granted a position in the Chancellery of the General Consulate of Madrid until his return in 1927 after obtaining his professional degree from the Special School of Painting, Sculpture and Engraving. Opening a studio at the Faenza theatre he exhibited at the Academia de la Lengua and painted portraits, still lifes, interiors, and landscapes. In 1928 he was appointed professor of preparatory color studies at the National School of Fine Arts in Bogotá and married artist Inés Delgado Padilla who had studied in Brussels under Marcel Hess. Inés would become his manager organizing his exhibitions and studio. In 1948 they moved to Canada and held several exhibitions in Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto until returning to Columbia in 1951. A great friend of Doña Teresa Cuervo, director of the National Museums headquarters of the Panóptico, he was welcome to exhibit frequently and eventually set up as a permanent exhibitor for the enjoyment of the general public. (Source: Wikipedia)
