ANDRES AVELINO CACERES

• ANDRES AVELINO CACERES (2008) series –  1/25
• Serigraphs – 19.7 x 27.6 inches (70 x 50 cm.)
• Numbered – original artist signature – watermark – certificate
• Hand printing over cotton paper.

A hero of the Pacific War (Perú and Chile), Andrés Avelino Cáceres was born in Ayacucho in 1833. Military by profession, he fought and survived every battle of this war. He was named a hero in merit for his extraordinary contribution to the defense and reconstruction of his homeland and for his skills as a military man and strategist. He perfectly spoke Quechua, forming an important and seasoned army in the Andes, who called him “Taita Cáceres” (Father Cáceres). The Chileans nicknamed him “The Wizard of the Andes” because he inexplicably appeared everywhere and evaded the Chileans’ bold planned maneuvers. He obtained important triumphs in many battles but was defeated in the Battle of Huamachuco. Even so, he did not surrender and continued in resistance until the end of the war. Out of the four Peruvian heroes of the Pacific War: Francisco Bolognesi, Alfonso Ugarte, Miguel Grau, and Andrés Avelino Cáceres, “The Wizard of the Andes” was the only one who survived the war, later becoming President of Perú.

“The Wizard of the Andes was the only surviving hero of the Pacific War, who would later become President of Perú in two terms. In both missions, his role was essential in our history. He was recognized as a national hero for participating in the war’s crucial battles and for being the enemy’s nightmare during the resistance. After the war, Cáceres undertook a political campaign then led by civil wars. His first term as a President was fundamental, as his objective was the reconstruction of the nation. His political trail would accompany him until his retirement, spending his last days in the well-known coastal city of Ancón.” —Cherman