HECTOR DA PONTE

Born in Florence , Italy in 1870 and died in Asunción in 1956.  Came to Paraguay on the last decade of the 19th Century having studied at the Royal Albertine Academy of Torino (Turín) and worked intensely.  He came on a contract with the Paraguayan Institute and founded the Art Academy, besides the First Hall of Fine Arts and during more the half a century teaches on a permanent basis taking entire generations through academic paths.

Da Ponte exhibited his paintings for the first time in 1899.  He also had exhibitions in Buenos Aires (Argentina) and in his native city.  Among his largest paintings are the paintings representing the Windings of the Tebicuary and Paraguay Rivers.  The Italian Government granted him the distinction of Knight of the Italian Crown.