Marcial Plaza Ferrand (also known as Marcel) was born on May 21, 1876 in Santiago, Chile. He began as an artist in the Academy of Painting directed by Pedro Lira in 1893, where he distinguished himself by the execution of portraits. Along with this, in 1901 he was pensioned by the State of Chile to continue his studies in France, at the Julian Academy in Paris. In that house of studies he was a student of Louis Le Poittevin (1847-1909), Fernand Cormon (1845-1924), Benjamin Constant (1845-1902) and Jean Paul Laurens (1838-1921). According to sources of the time, during his stay in Europe, he was invited to exhibit in London, Brussels, Seville and Sydney. In 1898 he won the first medal in the Official Salon of Santiago, product of this distinction appeared on the cover of ZigZag magazine, gallery of artists of the time. In addition, thanks to his skill as a portraitist, the work of Marcial Plaza Ferrand achieved international success, which is evident with the achievement of the Honorable Mention at the Official Salon of Paris in 1905. In Chile, his career was recognized with the retrospective exhibition held at the Official Salon of 1948, on the occasion of his death. In his work, the artist focused on painting, a medium with which he elaborated balanced compositions in their forms and structured and resolute organization. His portraits of women, show voluptuous forms and a delicate femininity. Along with the above, he developed a regulated management of color and light, generating warm atmospheres that link the different elements of the painting. Ferrand did not return to Chile, remained in France where his work took some impressionistic borders from a freer gesture. However, his paintings were known in Chile thanks to his shipments and his frequent participation in the Santiago salons, where he obtained the approval of collectors and critics. In addition, according to sources at that time, he replaced Fernando Álvarez de Sotomayor at the Academy of Fine Arts for a season. Marcial Plaza Ferrand died on August 24, 1948 in Garches, France. Awards, distinctions and contests 1929 Silver Medal and Diploma of Honor, Iberoamerican Exhibition, Seville, Spain. 1910 Second Medal, International Exhibition of Fine Arts, Santiago, Chile. 1905 Honorable Mention, Paris Salon, Paris, France. 1901 Third Class Medal, Buffalo International Exhibition, Buffalo, United States. 1901 Pensioned by the Government of Chile to study in Europe. 1899 First Class Medal Section Painting, Official Hall, Santiago, Chile. 1898 First Class Medal Painting Section, Official Hall, Santiago, Chile. 1897 Prize of Customs ex-aequo Contest Edwards, Official Hall, Santiago, Chile. 1897 Medal of Second Class Section Painting, Official Hall, Santiago, Chile. 1896 Medal of Third Class Section Painting, Official Hall, Santiago, Chile. 1895 Third Class Medal Painting Section, Official Hall, Santiago, Chile.