Internal album cover by José Octavio de Oyague (1878) by Rafael PlascenciaNational Library of Peru
An artistic document
This selection of images found in the autograph albums (albums of friends and memories) kept in the repositories of the National Library of Peru does not only take into account their value as artistic documents.
The autograph signatures
In these albums, their owners collected the autograph signatures of people in their circle of friends or interests, which are presented in the form of dedications, poems, drawings and other compositions.
The album of the writer Juana Manuela Gorriti (ca.1816-189)
It is the oldest in the archives of the National Library of Peru. The album contains compositions written between 1849 and 1864, many of them during his literary meetings. This album stands out not only for its texts, but also for the annotations made by Ricardo Palma, a journalist and the director of the library.
Portrait of Francisco de Paula Gonzales
Portrait of Francisco de Paula Gonzales Vigil (1852) and dedication (1853).
Pencil drawing on embossed paper, 14 x 10.9 cm.
Portrait of Francisco de Paula González Vigil (1792-1875), Peruvian clergyman, politician and intellectual.
Anonymous drawing given by his friend Francisco Gómez
He accompanies the drawing with the following dedication: "I am very pleased to put my name in the Album of the very appreciable Mrs. Doña J. Manuela Gorriti, corresponding to her wishes." Lima, January 1, 1853.
Baños Cauquenes - Chile, Anonymous, Dedicated by Giovatto Molinelli. From the collection of: National Library of Peru
Bodegón, Anonymous, From the collection of: National Library of Peru
Monograms by AnonymousNational Library of Peru
Album by José Octavio de Oyague
The album by José Octavio de Oyague is the largest in the National Library of Peru and is in a good state of preservation, being visually very striking for the illustrations it contains.
He is notable for his interest in collecting monograms and shields, a peculiar and little-known hobby in Peru.
Internal album cover by José Octavio de Oyague (1878)
Ink and color drawing 25.8 x 18.2 cm. Signed by Rafael Plasencia (ca. 1832-?), husband of the poet Manuela Villarrán (1837-1886) and artillery captain of the Ayacucho battalion. Although the year 1877 is read on the cover, the composition was made in 1878.
Album by Juana Rosa de Amézaga
It contains poems and thoughts by renowned figures of Peruvian literature, which can be located between 1885 and 1904: Ricardo Palma, Luis Benjamín Cisneros, Lastenia Larriva de Llona, Amalia Puga de Losada, Carlos Germán Amézaga, Clorinda Matto de Turner, among others.
Cupid and Venus
Cupido y Venus. (18-?). Oil on cardboard and gold paper, 14.3 x 20.9 cm.
Dedicated by María Eugenia Rosas y de la Puente (ca. 1864-1949), president of the Catholic Union of Peru. She is the wife of the Peruvian politician and diplomat Melitón F. Porras.
En 1886, el célebre escritor, poeta y diplomático peruano Luis Benjamín Cisneros (1837-1904) se refirió al cuadro con el siguiente poema: "Declaro que causa horror / ver, aunque sólo sea en pintura, / un cupido trovador / que está cantando al amor / a Venus en miniatura."
Landscape, Anonymous, Dedicated by Daniel Ezequiel Cuevas, 1887, From the collection of: National Library of Peru
Souvenir, Anonymous, 1887, From the collection of: National Library of Peru
An intimate beauty
Due to its private and intimate nature, the album has not emerged as a source of research. Being personal items, many albums have not survived the passage of time. The few that are preserved in the National Library came to the institution through purchase or a donation.
Para acceder a más contenidos digitales de la Biblioteca Nacional del Perú, te invitamos a ingresar a su Biblioteca Digital.
