Today I pay tribute to my maternal grandfather, Prof. Juan Daniel Cordoba, a remarkable man and fine artist, whose life was not without a great deal of struggle. He was the natural son of a wealthy landowner so he had to fight his own battles. It was not easy to be an extramarital child at that time. We have become more tolerant now.
He worked very hard and self-funded his studies, becoming a professor of Fine Arts, painter and sculptor. He was also an amateur antiquarian who specialised in particular types of Argentine native pottery, such as those made by the Diaguitas people. Some of Grandfather’s finds and work can be seen at the Rocsen Museum in the Mountains of his native Cordoba, Argentina.
Grandfather’s home in Cosquin was designed and built by himself and it is now a non for profit cultural centre where many artists and crafts people run regular workshops. The house was a work of art in itself; the most charming little cottage in the Argentine Sierras. A combination of an alpine villa and a hobbit’s retreat where one could find bespoke features all over the place. There, how much I loved trying to make sense of Grandpa's writings and his almost mystical paintings and sculptures!
Grandfather’s life was cut short, too short, at 49 years of age. After being diagnosed with cancer he passed away in a month. My mother was the eldest of four daughters and who were left behind with Hilda his devoted wife. I never met him as he died before I was even conceived. But my grandmother taught me to love and admire him and I feel, somehow, that a part of him lives in me. I believe in the resurrection; I am glad I do. I believe that one day he will hear his call and come back and we shall meet. How I long for that! I dedicate this article to him.
"Afternoon" - Oil on wooden panel ( 7 x 9 in - 18 x 23 cm )
This is one of my favourite paintings by my Grandpapa. It was given me by my grandmother. Every time I look at it, it transports me to the crimson sunsets of the dusty skies of the Argentine Sierras, where I spent my childhood holidays.