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Primary sourcePainting1822

Simon Bolivar, Presidente Libertador de la Republica de Colombia

Victor · 1822

A Paris lithograph portrait of Bolívar made during his lifetime, as President Liberator of Colombia.

This European lithograph shows how Bolívar's image as Liberator spread through print during his own lifetime.

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Lithograph portrait of Simón Bolívar in military uniform with epaulettes and high collar, head turned slightly right, against a shaded background. Below are the printed title 'Simon Bolivar, Presidente Libertador de la Republica de Colombia' with a small allegorical vignette, and handwritten French certification text with a signature.
Victor (del.), Simon Bolivar, Presidente Libertador de la Republica de Colombia, lithograph, Lith. de G. Engelmann, Paris, c. 1822. Sainte-Geneviève Library.

About this source

What it is

This is a lithograph portrait of Simón Bolívar, made by Victor and printed by the Lithographie de G. Engelmann in Paris around 1822. It shows Bolívar in military uniform, with a printed title identifying him as President Liberator of the Republic of Colombia. The print is now held at the Sainte-Geneviève Library.

Why it matters

This portrait shows how Bolívar's image circulated in Europe through the new technology of lithography while he was still alive and in power. It reflects the fascination and admiration that European audiences had for the leaders of the South American independence movements.

Look closer

  • What does Bolívar's uniform and pose suggest about how he wanted to be seen?
  • Why might a French printmaker in Paris have made a portrait of a South American leader?
  • What handwritten certification appears on the print, and what might that tell us about how such images were authenticated?

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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