Exmo. Señor José Tadeo Monagas, President of the Republic of Venezuela and General of its armies.

This large-format original antique lithograph presents the official portrait of General José Tadeo Monagas, a central figure in 19th-century Venezuelan history. The work, executed by the draughtsman Florentino Martínez and printed at the Litografía de Castello in Madrid, constitutes a document of extraordinary rarity. No records of this edition are found in the global WorldCat (OCLC) catalogue, and to date only one other example is known to be preserved, at the National Library of Spain (BNE).

The piece holds exceptional historical importance owing to the printed dedication: “Al enviado de Venezuela Sr. J. C. Hurtado de Mendoza en París”. This detail links the work to the diplomatic mission of José Cornelio Hurtado de Mendoza, plenipotentiary of the Venezuelan government in Europe. The production of this portrait in Madrid for use by the delegation in Paris underscores the effort of the Monagas regime to consolidate its image of authority and prestige in the European capitals.

Technically, the portrait stands out for the mastery in the use of the lithographic stone characteristic of Castello. Monagas is depicted in a General’s uniform, with a physiognomy that conveys determination and republican dignity. The scarcity of examples and its absence from the principal international bibliographic repertories make this lithograph a museum-quality piece, essential for the high-end collection of Latin American political and diplomatic iconography.

Provenance: from the private Oxford collection of the Americanist Malcolm Deas.