Juan Emilio Hernández Giró

From thirteen years of age he showed his passion for art, his first teachers being his father Rodolfo Hernández Soleliac and the Frenchman Luis Oscar Marisy.

He continued his studies in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, where his family took refuge in 1897 during the War of Independence. He entered in 1898 the National Academy of Painting of Haiti, where he studied with Archibald Lochard and returned to Cuba in 1901, painting his first major historical work "The Landing of Martí and Máximo Gómez".

He studied at the newly created Municipal Academy of Fine Arts created in his hometown by Don Emilio Bacardí y Moreau, studying with painters Félix and José Joaquín Tejada.

Granted a scholarship by the Municipality of Santiago de Cuba, he departed for Spain, Barcelona, in 1904, to perfect his studies and remained in Europe for a total of 17 years. He worked in Barcelona in the workshop of master Ricardo Martí and in Paris at the Colarossi Academy, with Ernest Martens also being his teacher.

Upon his return to Cuba he settled in Havana, being appointed in 1925 Head of the Bureau of Fine Arts, Libraries and Archives of the Department of Education. From that position he managed material improvements and reorganization of teaching at the Academy of San Alejandro, also drafting a new Regulation for said institution, whose direction he held in 1926.

In 1927 he was appointed Director of Fine Arts of the Department of Public Instruction, organizing the attendance of Cuban artists at exhibitions in Philadelphia, Baltimore and the Seville Exposition of 1929.

He participated in numerous personal and collective exhibitions: in 1910, 1911 and 1912 at the Salons of Independents in Paris. In 1912 at the Henri Manuel Gallery in Paris. In 1916 and 1917 at the Exhibition of the Allies. In 1919 at the Piguet Gallery. In 1920, 1922, 1923 and 1924 at the Salon of Independents. In 1921 at the La Boëtie Gallery and at the Salon of Versailles, Paris. In 1924 at the Salons of the Legation of Cuba in Paris. In 1925 at the Diario de la Marina, Havana. At the Salons of the Circle of Fine Arts of 1924 and 1925, Havana. Ibero-American Exposition of Seville, in 1929. In numerous exhibitions of the Association of Painters and Sculptors of Havana.

Hernández Giro received a gold medal at the Seville Exposition in 1930. He was a notable orator and writer, publishing the work National Art, Graphic History of Cuba.

Among his works, Meeting at La Mejorana prominent figures. At one time, this piece was included among the paintings shown at the Presidential Palace of Havana.

He cultivated portraits, landscapes, and large historical compositions. Among his important works are included: The Founding of Santiago de Cuba, The Death of Agramonte, The Emigrants, and the Burning of Bayamo.

His cultural work included lectures, articles and books on art. He practiced almost all techniques of the plastic arts, and received countless artistic and cultural honors. His most well-known works are the paintings about our wars of independence and the history of Cuba.

He died in Ciudad de La Habana