ROSADO DEL VALLE

ROSADO DEL VALLE, Julio (Puerto Rico 1922)

Julio Rosado del Valle was a gifted painter but would also produce sculptures with aluminum – but soon abandoned this due to its toxic content. He created murals, and drawings and towards the end of his life would produce computer drawings.

His work captured recognisable images that made an impact with his mastery of colour whether they were symbolic or abstract. The imageries that accompany the following work display one of the recurring motives in his work: the representation of the Puerto Rican child whether playing or walking alone through the streets whilst discovering the world.

Born in the 20th century at a time when the laws of Fine Art took an unusual direction (the European avant-gardes such as Pablo Picasso) Rosado del Valle explored diverse topics such as animals, landscapes, still lifes, nudes and portraits.

Julio Rosado del Valle started his painting career as a teenager. In 1944, he was trained by Spanish painter, Cristóbal Ruiz. In 1946, the University of Puerto Rico awarded him a scholarship to study at the New School of Social Research in New York. He was taught the mastery of Cuban artist Mario Carreño and the muralist Camilo Egas. A year later, he travelled through Europe (Florence and Paris) where he was absorbed in the aesthetic diversity of the European masters.

He returned to Puerto Rico and worked in the graphic arts studio in the Division of Community Education (Divedco). In 1950 he won the competition to decorate one of the halls at the Hilton Caribbean. He painted ‘Vejigantes’ that can still be seen by visitors to the hotel. He was appointed resident artist for the University of Puerto Rico in 1955 and held this position until 1982.