Portrait of Colonel Juan Baptista Azopardo

This painting portrays the 'Coronel de Marina', Juan Bautista Azopardo, at bust-length, slightly turned, yet he still maintains a direct gaze at the beholder. He is set against a plain, brown-coloured background, with light being concentrated behind his figure, but then receeding to a darker colour towards the corners. In the portrait, Azopardo is wearing his uniform. Juan Bautista Azopardo was born in Senglea Malta. From a young age, he had shown interest in naval architecture, and eventually, he went to study at Toulon through Grand Master Emmanuel Marie des Neiges de Rohan- Polduc (1725-1797). He served in both the French and British fleets. By the end of the 18th century, he acquired commissioned rank in the French Navy and travelled to Latin America and the Caribbean taking part in several battles. He arrived in Buenos Aires for the first time in 1799. After the Battle of Trafalgar, the British launched their first attack on Buenos Aires in 1806. Azopardo fought along the patriotic forces to ward off the invaders. The British launched the second invasion a year later, and after his heroism he was promoted to the rank of Lt Colonel of the Urban Militia of Buenos Aires on the suggestion of Viceroy de Liniers. In 1810, Juan Bautista Azopardo joined the revolutionaries for the May Revolution and was enrolled in the Corps of Gredaniers to assist in the acquisition of Independence. He was the founder of the Argentinian Navy after organizing the first naval squadron. The Argentinian Navy suffered from a defeat against the Spanish Fleet and Azopardo was imprisoned. In 1820, he was liberated and returned back to Argentina. He was celebrated as a great hero and was appointed Harbour Master and in 1824 he became the Navy’s Colonel.