The Abdication of Bernardo O'Higgins

What it is

This is an oil painting of a formal scene in a red-draped room. A uniformed man in a red and white outfit with epaulettes stands at the centre. Men in dark suits and top hats gather around a red-covered table and crowd the right side. The painting is dated 1875 and was made by Manuel Antonio Caro. It is a history painting of O'Higgins's resignation as Supreme Director of Chile.

Why it matters

History painters of the nineteenth century often recreated important political moments long after they happened. This painting shows how Chileans of a later generation imagined the end of O'Higgins's rule. Because it was made decades after the event, it reflects the artist's understanding and choices rather than an eyewitness record. The gathered men show that political power was shared among many people, not only the leader.

Look closer

• Who is shown standing in the centre, and how do the other men seem to react to him?
• Why might a painter from 1875 choose to show a scene from decades earlier?
• What does the painting leave out, such as the reasons for the resignation or the views of people who disagreed?