José Joaquín Tejada

His interest in art began by copying the lithographs made by his grandfather, Joaquín de Mata y Tejada, one of Cuba's first engravers.

[citation needed] A government scholarship funded his initial studies, allowing him to visit Spain, Italy, France, and the Netherlands.

After his return to Cuba he visited New York City, where he exhibited in 1894; at the same time he struck up an acquaintance with José Martí.

[citation needed] Later in his career he taught at the Academy of Fine Arts in Santiago de Cuba, which has since been named after him, and also served as its director, in addition to being President of the Artistic Association of Oriente.

[citation needed] A number of his important works were presented at the exhibit "Colonial Painting", which was held in 1950 at the Capitol Building in Havana.