The painter Rafael Coronel was born in Zacatecas, on October 24, 1931. As a youth Coronel thought art was a waste of time, a "complement to other jobs, bringing no money". He was exposed to art though, since his grandfather painted "decorations" in churches and his older brother Pedro Coronel (see March 25 post) was a painter also. After becoming interested in art and architecture when he went to Mexico City to study to be an accountant, he won a painting contest (with a crayon drawing). The contest win provided him with a scholarship so he did study art for a short time at La Esmeralda but was kicked out of misbehavior.
Coronel married Diego Rivera's daughter Ruth and they had one son, Juan Coronel. She died in 1969 and I believe his loneliness shows in his paintings. Coronel's paintings are primarily portraits, some of past masters. They are mysterious and at times somber depictions of old age. His work was influenced, in part, by Rembrandt.
"Old Man with Face of Christ"
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