Simón Bolívar
Medium Size

“The first of all forces is public opinion; it is the true foundation of institutions.”

Before us rises the most iconic and solemn image of sovereign power. This full-length portrait presents Simón Bolívar at the height of his political maturity, freed from the dust of the trenches but clothed in the highest military dignity of Gran Colombia.

Every detail of his attire is a political statement: the bright red coat with gold braid evokes the blood shed by the patriot army and the glory of its victories; his high boots remind us that the statesman never ceased to be a champion of liberty; and the bicorn hat, tucked securely under his arm, symbolizes respect for civil laws regarding arms. With a firm stance and his right hand resting naturally near the hilt of his sword, this painting does not portray the warrior who destroys an empire, but the magistrate who builds a new era of laws, order, and sovereignty for the American nations.