 | Padre Gonzalo Carrasco S.J. (1859 - 1936)
Born in Otumba, near Mexico City, he studied at the Academia de San Carlos where he learned from Santiago Rebull. During his youth, he traveled to Spain where he gathered a rich understanding of the works of Old Masters at the Prado Museum in Madrid. His major influence from this period became Bartolome Esteban Murillo. He started exhibiting his work since 1878 and with much acclaim. His first recognition was awarded in 1883 for his painting "San Luis Gonzaga en la Peste de Roma". So strong was his devotion to religion that in 1884 he joined the Church. While he became a Jesuit priest he never gave up on his passion for art, therefore creating images with supreme academic brilliance and a deep understanding of religious facts. Before the Mexican Revolution broke out he had been rector of several academic and religious institutions in Puebla, Tepozotlan and Mexico City. He was arrested, along with three other priests by Venustiano Carranza while he was rector of the Collegium Maximum in Tepozotlan on August 8th, 1914. Father Carrasco was held in a dingy prison in Tealoyucan with 16 other prisoners and had to share small loaves of bread that were smuggled by friendly villagers since they got no food from their captors. After a few days he was called before a superior officer who offered him the head of the National Arts Academy of Mexico, because of his artistic talents, if he were to renounce his religion, otherwise he would be executed immediately. The next morning came along and Father Carrasco declined the offer, impressing the officers with his courage. He was sent back to Tepozotlan where he met Venustiano Carranza and made a portrait of him. Carranza liked it so much that he decided to cancel the execution and send his prisoner into exile. The revolution ended and he eventually made it back to Mexico where he re-joined his church and his brushes. He made several frescoes for temples in Mexico City (1895, 1924), Saltillo (1920) and Puebla (1931). Joyce Kilmer wrote a lengthy article about this notable artist for the New York Times on July 2, 1916. Father Gonzalo Carrasco died in Puebla in 1936.
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