Jacobo Azaguri was born in Gibraltar in 1886. He studied at the “Real Academia San Fernando” in Madrid in 1915 and then later moved to Lisbon to further his studies under José Maria Veloso Salgado. Unfortunately Salgado’s style was not really compatible with that of Azaguri who was fundamentally an expressionist.
Self portrait
When asked about his teacher’s influence on his work Azaguri replied that his true teacher was ‘Mother Nature’ and that he intended his paintings to show his compassion for mankind.
Azaguri - now signing his paintings as Azagury - exhibited in La Línea, Jerez de la Frontera, Malaga, Granada and Tangier. He also organised exhibitions in Funchal, Madeira where he was evacuated during the Second World War.
Azagury first exhibited in Gibraltar in 1952 at the Calpe Institute, and continued to appear in numerous exhibitions in Gibraltar. During his lifetime, Azagury was widely regarded as a much misunderstood and under-rated artist. Later due to the efforts of his friends and companions at the Calpe Artists Society, most notably Mario Finlayson, his contributions to the local art community were finally recognised.
Azagury first exhibited in Gibraltar in 1952 at the Calpe Institute, and continued to appear in numerous exhibitions in Gibraltar. During his lifetime, Azagury was widely regarded as a much misunderstood and under-rated artist. Later due to the efforts of his friends and companions at the Calpe Artists Society, most notably Mario Finlayson, his contributions to the local art community were finally recognised.
He was awarded the OBE in 1978 and was also posthumously granted the Gibraltar Medallion of Honour in 2008, for services to the arts. He died on 17th January 1980
The artist’s mother
Azagury produced a very large number of works during his life time. The ones shown below are the only ones that that I have so far been able to find.
St Joseph's Church
St Joseph's Church (2)
Harbour from the Alameda Gardens
HMS Vanguard in Dry Dock
La Caleta - Church of Our Lady of Sorrows
La Caleta beach looking north
La Caleta village looking east
Signal Station
View of Rock from Spain
Unknown location
Los Olvidados
Unknown
Sailors at a bar
Cornwall's Parade
Portraits