Francisco Laso

Who was Francisco Laso?

Francisco Laso de los Ríos was a Peruvian painter. He studied under Charles Gleyre in Paris.

Laso was born in Tacna. His parents were Benito Laso de la Vega and Juana Manuela de los Ríos.He spent his childhood in Arequipa. Later he moved to Lima to study law but soon abandoned it. Enrolled at the Academy of Drawing in the National Library, meets Ignacio Merino, who encourages him to be perfected in Europe. Laso travels to Paris in 1843, where he practices in the studio of the Swiss painter Charles Gleyre, who also learning Monet, Renoir, Sisley, among others. Returns to Lima after 6 years of work, opening a studio. Makes a second trip to Europe in 1851, this time thanks to a grant from the then government of Echenique, returning to the studio Gleyre. Spread Indigenist issues at this stage. Return to Peru in 1855, where he devoted to portrait. He married Manuela Enriquez, and makes a third trip to Europe. Returning in 1866, participates in the Dos de mayo Combat . The following year he is elected to the Constituent Congress. In 1869 died in the village of San Mateo, while traveling to work with the Red Cross in a campaign to eradicate yellow fever.