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Primary sourcePainting1825

Portrait of Simón Bolívar

Antonio Salas · 1825

A painted portrait of Simón Bolívar made in 1825, while he was alive and leading the independence movement.

A lifetime portrait of Bolívar painted in 1825, showing him in military dress as a leader of independence.

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Painted portrait of a man in a dark naval-style military uniform with gold embroidered epaulettes, gold leaf-patterned braided collar and front trim, and a white glove on one hand. Dark brown background; he faces slightly right with a serious expression.
Antonio Salas, Portrait of Simón Bolívar, 1825.

About this source

What it is

A painting by Antonio Salas, dated 1825. It shows Simón Bolívar in a dark naval-style military uniform with gold embroidered epaulettes and a braided collar, facing slightly to one side with a serious expression.

Why it matters

Painted while Bolívar was still alive and actively leading the independence of several South American nations, this portrait is a primary source showing how he presented himself and was depicted during his lifetime, in formal military dress befitting his role as a leader.

Look closer

  • What does the choice of a military uniform suggest about how Bolívar wanted to be seen?
  • Why might the artist have chosen a serious, formal expression rather than a relaxed one?
  • What does this portrait leave out about Bolívar's life and personality?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Simón Bolívar on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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