Francisco Oller and France: New Perspectives

Francisco Oller was one of the most distinguished and influential artists to emerge from the Caribbean in the mid-nineteenth century. Often referred to as the painter of Puerto Rico, he is most noted for his depictions of everyday life on the island, landscapes, still lifes, portraits, and history paintings. However, his four lengthy journeys to Spain and France throughout his life indelibly marked his artistic production. This essay reconsiders the impact of French art on Oller. It deals with two heretofore unstudied paintings (both in private collections). A tabletop still life with peonies and other flowers reminds us of his interest in Henri Fantin-Latour and his contemporaries in Paris. Oller’s small but panoramic landscape of the pilgrimage shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes in southern France opens up questions regarding the artist’s own religious leanings and his interest in depicting public spaces.