Skip to main content

Primary sourcePainting1823

Simón Bolívar

José Gil de Castro · 1823

An 1823 portrait of Bolívar painted from life in Lima, considered one of the most faithful records of his appearance.

This is a life portrait of Bolívar himself, praised by him for its accuracy, and used to document his real appearance.

Ask Simón Bolívar about this sourceView the original(opens in new tab)
Oil portrait of a man with dark curly hair, large dark mustache and sideburns, in a bright red military uniform with gold embroidered laurel leaves, gold epaulettes, black undercollar, and a jeweled medal on the chest, against a dark green background.
José Gil de Castro, Portrait of Simón Bolívar, 1823. Lima Art Museum.

About this source

What it is

This oil portrait of Simón Bolívar was painted in 1823 by José Gil de Castro in Lima, Peru. It is held today at the Lima Art Museum.

Why it matters

Gil de Castro painted Bolívar from life, and the portrait is regarded as one of the most accurate records of how Bolívar actually looked, reportedly praised by Bolívar himself for its likeness. It shows him in military dress at the height of his power as a leader of South American independence.

Look closer

  • What does the red uniform and jeweled medal suggest about how Bolívar wanted to be seen?
  • Why might a 'from life' portrait matter more to historians than a later imagined one?
  • What is missing from a formal portrait like this that a photograph might show?

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.

More Simón Bolívar sources

Meet the AI Simón Bolívar →
Photograph of an aged, handwritten manuscript page on yellowed paper, lying open in a white book or folder. Dense cursive script fills the page, with a faded blue stamp from the Banco Central del Ecuador in the upper right corner and a stamp in the upper left. The photo carries an Andes news agency watermark.Letter

Primary source

Carta de Jamaica

Simón Bolívar · 1815

Black and white engraved portrait of a man in a military uniform with epaulettes and braided buttons, with short hair and a mustache, looking to his left. The caption below reads BOLIVAR. Printed on a cream sheet with the number 3 in the upper right corner.Painting

Secondary source

Portrait of Bolívar (Leipzig engraving)

Speech

Primary source

Speech of Angostura

Simón Bolívar · 15 February 1819

Black-and-white steel engraved portrait of a man with dark wavy hair and a mustache, wearing a high-collared military uniform with epaulettes and buttoned coat. Below the image are the printed title 'Bolivar' and credit lines.Painting

Secondary source

Steel Engraved Portrait of Bolívar by W. Holl after M.N. Bate

William Holl II · 1853

A painting of a man in a white shirt holding a quill and pointing at a document on a table, while a uniformed officer in a dark cape stands opposite, with soldiers and a seated scribe behind. A dog sits at left.Document

Primary source

Decree of War to the Death

Simón Bolívar · 15 June 1813

Ready when you are

Start chatting with Simón Bolívar now.

20 messages free · No credit card · Available in 50+ languages.

Trial Humy for freeGet a quote for institutions