Saving Liberato Spisso, artist from Argentina

Saving Liberato Spisso, born Buenos Aires, Argentina. 14 March 1903.

It’s just a bit over a 100 years since Liberato was born.

Self thought painter, sculptor and engraver had begun his work as a drawing artist to an important newspaper editorial. In turn becoming an engraver to the firm till he later retired from this job and dedicated himself in full to his art work.

1943 was the year he received his first reward from the Municipal Bank for his work "Apuntes de Carnival" and two prices for best engravings.

First prize Medalla de oro for his drawing from the III SAlon of San Fernando (city near Buenos Aires).

First prize for engravings from I salon of autom of the city La Pampa.(1944)

Second prize for an engraving from medalla de Plaat IV SAlon of San Fernabndo (1944)

The list of prices goes on.

His first individual exposition was in the Gallery Muller in 1945.Engravings of portraits of Argentinean painters of his days.

The world famous antaplouist, Docter Larocque Tinker (see more information below) took several of his engravings to the USA. On typical Argentina themes to be showed in exposition and shows that Dr L.Tinker sponsored threw out the USA.

First prize in 1950 for his sculpture "Resignacion".

Third Price for his painting in the Salon Sanmartiniano, portrait of San Martin.

From 1950 till 1960 he won several first prizes for works from engravings to paintings till his first work in fiber cement won him, the prize from Justin Quinquela Salon, for his work titled "David"

This article contributed by Julian Rodriquez. Copyright 2001, Buenos Aires. Argentina

Spisso Liberato, the forgotten sculptor

Spisso Liberato was a great Argentinean artist who devoted his life to sculpturing, painting and engraving. His silent death was a sorry prelude to his latter oblivion. In these days, though barely remembered by few mindful people, his urban art pieces, sculptures, paintings and engraving that once were so appreciated and recognized in show rooms and exhibitions all along the country, are a priceless cultural heritage to our country; another proof of why his name and works shouldn't be condemned to the silence of history.

Born in Buenos Aires in 1930, his family had just arrived to Argentina from their motherland seeking progress and a better life. As a young man he worked for many years drawing sketches and book covers for a prestigious publishing company of the Argentinean capital city. As time passed by he left behind this everyday job to fully dedicate to his true passion: Art.

True to his art, this outstanding craftsman worked who on sculptures, paintings and engravings was broadly rewarded with prestigious prizes and exhibitions worlwide. Some of the most relevant prizes our artist received are: First Prize Adquisición de Grabado en el Salón Municipal de Otoño in 1945, the Salón Nacional de Bellas Artes prize for his sculptor Resignación and the third prize of Salón Sanmartiniano, for his famous portrait of one of Argentina's most relevant fathers of the land: San Martín, in 1950 and the First Prize for Graving in Rosario in 1957. His first individual exhibition took place in 1945 in the Muller Art Gallery. His works where positively received by local artists, specialized critics and public in general. It was also at that time when his work was exhibited at many American show rooms.

His works reflect a particular view of our country, through portraits on many of the most preeminent politicians and Fathers of our nation and native landscapes. His death was a great loss to all art lovers, thus the unfairness of the disregard towards his artistic skills, his legacy were his productions spread around all Buenos Aires; they reflect what once were his dreams and illusions eternalized through his artistic creations which greatly proof his amazing talent.

Therefore we wanted to recall upon this artist through this brief though earned homage to his lifetime production.

Doctor Larocque Tinker.

The Tinker Foundation was created in 1959 by Dr. Edward Larocque Tinker. His lifelong interest in the Iberian tradition in the Old and New Worlds directed the Foundation's overall focus on Latin America, Spain and Portugal. More recently the Foundation has included in its mandate the support of projects concerning Antarctica, a region of significant interest on an international scale.

Email Bob Frassinetti.
The Buenos Aires Art
Dealer, Argentina.