Portrait of Simón BolívarJosé Gil de Castro

This portrait of Simón Bolívar by José Gil de Castro, created around 1823, is part of a series made before the artist met Bolívar. Gil de Castro used a template from another painting to replicate Bolívar’s likeness. These portraits were in high demand, serving as powerful propaganda reflecting Bolívar’s influence and the fervor of independence movements even before his arrival in Peru.