Samuel Román

Samuel Román Rojas (December 8, 1907 - April 7, 1990) was a Chilean sculptor. He won the National Prize of Art of Chile in 1964.

Román was born December 8, 1907 in Rancagua, Chile. The town named him Favorite Son in 1956 and awarded him the Santa Cruz de Triana Medal. In 1994 they began a regional painting competition named in his honor.

In 1924 Román began studying sculpture at the School of Fine Arts at the University of Chile. He studied under Carlos Lagarrigue and Virginio Arias among others. After graduation in 1928 he became a professor of Sculpture and Molding at the school. He held the position until 1949.

He received a Humboldt scholarship in 1937 to study at the Berlin Academy. While there he shared a studio with fellow Chileans José Perotti and Israel Roa. His teachers included Ernst Barlach and Käthe Kollwitz. Román undertook further studies in the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, and Italy. During this time his work "The Bride of the Wind" won the prize of Honor at the International Exhibition.

In 1939 Román served as Technical Advisor at the Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts. Along with Pablo Neruda, he created the Pedro Aguirre Cerda School of Stonemasons in 1943.

Román began additional travels to Europe in 1968. He traveled to Germany, Belgium, Austria, Italy, and the Soviet Union.

In 1971 he became the President of the Dismantling and Relocation Commission. This position was responsible for relocating monuments affected by the construction of the Santiago Metro. This position lasted until 1974.

Román died in Santiago on April 7, 1990. During his life he held multiple solo exhibitions in Santiago and Rancagua. These included at the National Museum of Fine Arts, the Ministry of Education, and the House of Culture of Ñuñoa. His work was included in group exhibitions held in Germany, Argentina, Brazil, and the United States.

Awards and honors source: 1930 - Gold Medal, Official Salon of Valparaíso 1931 - First Prize, Valparaíso and Viña del Mar Week Salon 1932 - University of Chile Prize in Sculpture 1932 - Van Buren Competition Prize 1933 - National History Prize in Sculpture, Arturo M. Edwards Competition 1933 - Grand Prize, Club de la Unión, for best sculptural work 1933 - First Prize, Applied Arts, Viña del Mar Salon 1935 - First Category Prize, Official Salon, Santiago 1936 - Prize of Honor, Official Exhibition of Popular Art organized by the Ministry of Labor 1937 - First Medal, Marcial Martínez Cuadra Competition 1938 - Prize of Honor, International Exhibition of Applied Arts, Berlin 1938 - Prize of Honor, Sculpture Section, Official Exhibition of Viña del Mar 1940 - Grand Gold Medal, Chilean Sculpture Exhibition in Argentina 1940 - Prize of Honor, Sculpture Section, Official Exhibition of Viña del Mar 1944-1974 - member of the Council of National Monuments 1950 - Grand Honorary Prize, Fine Arts Salon of the Fourth Centenary of the Founding of the city of Concepción, Chile 1951 - Grand Prize for Studies and Publications, Madrid Biennial, Spain 1958 - appointed Academic Member of the Faculty of Arts 1980 - First Prize, Sculpture Competition, Centenary of the National Museum of Fine Arts, Santiago 1980 - Tribute from the University of the Americas, Santiago