This important center, cradle for painting and drawing in Cuba, is the oldest of its type in Hispanoamerica. It was founded in January 11, 1818, at San Agustín de la Habana Vieja Convent. Since 1832, it was named San Alejandro to honor Don Alejandro Ramírez, General Superintendent and Director of Real Sociedad Económica Amigos del País.

With time, this cultural entity had settled at diverse places of the Cuban capital, until 1962 when it occupied a building located at 31st Ave and 100 St in Marianao, current destiny for this institution.

This academy, born under an atmosphere of changes in Cuba during XIX century was nominated as Free School of Painting and Drawing by the Real Sociedad Patriótica and Real Consulado de la Ciudad de La Habana. It`s earlier director was the French painter Juan Bautista Vermay, who greenlights the academic studies of plastic arts through the creation of workshops for this sort of education. Vermay`s works can be seen in some buildings of the epoch.

San Alejandro National Academy of Plastic Arts has been headed by prestigious artists not only Cuban but also from overseas places, highlighting Joseph Leclere, who practiced instruction and opened model classes in this school around 1848, Federico Mialhe, Italian landscaper and eminent scientist who was in charge in 1850 and reaffirmed the landscape in the XIX`s painting; Miguel Melero, who was a reformer regarding to the use of color; Leopoldo Romañach and Armando Menocal, both reopened the XX century with new concepts in the artistic education; Esteban Valderrama y Peña, notable portrayer; Enrique Caravia; Florencio Gelabert; also Carmelo González, who founded in 1957, the Association of Printmakers in Cuba and enhanced the education when he added printmaking over wood, xylography and chalcography.

In San Alejandro was registered during various months José Martí and some other relevant personalities from our culture studied there, to later place our art at prominent worldwide levels. Among these gems are sculptors Domingo Ravenet, Juan José Sicre, Rita Longa, Agustín Cárdenas; such notable painters and printmakers as Víctor Manuel, Fidelio Ponce de León, Jorge Arche, Eduardo Abela, Raúl Martínez, Servando Cabrera Moreno, Juan Moreira, Flora Fong and Roberto Fabelo.

Sources: Cubarte and José Martí National Library

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