Francisco Javier Matís

[1] In 1781, aged 18, the young Matís traveled to Santa Fe de Bogotá and worked as a painter for the Urquinaona family, who had strong ties to the Expedition.

It took place during the same period as the expedition to Peru and northern Chile led by Hipólito Ruiz and José Pavón, with that of New Spain which was under the direction of Martín Sessé and José Moziño and with that of Baltasar Manuel Boldo[3] which centered on the Huina River basin in eastern Cuba.

Their work included the collection of plants and their depiction in botanical plates, although oil paintings of animals were also produced and portraits of indigenous people in their tribal dress.

These effects were sent to Spain on the instructions of Pablo Morillo, the general who had ordered the execution of de Caldas.

In an official statement made in 1817, Matís wrote that proper packing should have taken at least six months and that many plant specimens were discarded because of the haste.