Muralist and painter who became a leader of the Peruvian Indigenist movement and was among its earliest supporters.
He traveled to the region of Cuzco, where he fell in love with native Peruvian art. He traveled Europe and North Africa from 1908 until 1913, then studied at the National School of Fine Arts in Buenos Aires, Argentine, for five years.
He promoted pre-Colombian culture and art even though he himself was of European ancestry.
His parents were both Spanish nationals.
He was a friend and contemporary of Mexican artist Diego Rivera.
