Evening star., 1909-08-29
Jean Baptiste vermay,
the Celebrated Painter

~NE Of the most striking public build
ings OF Havana il the Cathedral,
which, although modest in comparf-
son with the magnificent cathedrais of
such Latin-Amerfcan capitals as Buenos
Aires and Mexico City, attracts the at
tention Of the observer, on account Of its
very symmetrical Spanish and Moorish
architecture. The interior is lofty and
spacious, and on the walls and ceiling OF
the venerable structure there is a series
OF very artistic frescoes and paintings.
This work was initiated by the celebrated
Bishop Espada, who secured the services
OF the Italian painter Perovani. The lat
ter painted for the Cathedral The Ascen-
sion," "The Last Supper and "Peter
Receiving the Keys of the Church" Later
Perovani went to Mexico, where he made
the portraits of number Of the viceroys
OF that country. He was preparing to re-
turn to Havana, when, in 1885, he fell a
victim Of cholera and died at the age OF
seventy.
AS the decoration of the Cathedral of
Havana was far from complete. Bishop
Espada induced the French painter Jean
Baptiste vernay to undertake the fur
ther execution of.the work. Vermay was
born in Tournay, France. the 18th Of Oc-
tober. 1186, early revealed his talent for
art and received instruction from the
illustrious David. Later he studied in
Rome and Florence under the best masters,
and soon enjoyed a high reputation in
Europe, receiving when he was only
twenty-one years old a medal of honor
from the great French emperor Napoleon
I. Thus, when he arrived in Havana, at
the age OF thirty, he was already recog-
nized as one Of the foremost European
painters.
Vermay was successfully executing the
commission intrusted to him by Bishop
Espada when he met with frightful ac-
cident, as he was painting the ceiling of
of April 1929. The scaffolding support
ing him gave way, and he fell from an
elevation of forty-two feet, on to the
marble floor below. He fractured his
hands and feet, dislocated his shoulders,
and was SO seriously injured that he was
considered at first to be dead, but owing
to skillful surgery and careful nursing, he
was not only soon completely restored to
health. but not even the slightest trace of
his HIS, injury remained: He He was certainly
eminent artists. under similar circum-
stances. The Spanish painter Sebastian
Munoz for instance, was killed by a
similar fall.
and the intendant Of Havana, Don Ale
jandro Ramirez, Vermay established
successful school of painting in the Con-
vent Of st. Augustine. He achieved many
notable triumphs, and among his last
works are the celebrated canvases repre-
senting scenes in the life and career OF
Columbus, which are in the historic Tenn
plete building, a structure usually not
open to the public except on the 18TH of
October. the anniversary OF the discovery
OF America.
Vermay died on the 1st of March, 1889,
from the terrible epidemic Of cholera then
raging In Havana, and he was buried in
the little Espada cemetery, which has
been demolished in recent years. His
disciples erected monument to his mem
ory. and the Cuban poets Sarraga and
Jose Maria Heredia are said to have COM
posed the following epitaph which was
inscribed on the monument:
Vermay rests here. The pure light of
enthusiasm illuminated his brow. He had
candid and ardent SOUL and the heart
and tenderness OF an artist. He was a
painter. transplanted to Cuban soil. where
he left the powerful genius Of his art, and
profound love and deep mourning in every
refined and generous soul!'