Santiago Rebull Gordillo (1829–1902) was a notable Mexican painter of the 19th century.
He began his studies at age 18 at the Academia de San Carlos, of whichhe became principal and teacher, with muralist Diego Rivera (1886–1957) among his students. His painting La Muerte de Marat earned him a scholarship to study in Italy, where he lived for seven years. Rebull famously painted portraits for the Mexican emperor Maximiliano de Habsburgo (1832–1867) and Presidents Benito Juarez (1806–1872) and Porfirio Diaz (1830–1915).
The author, José Juan Tablada (1871–1945), was a Mexican writer, journalist and diplomat [see in the ICAA digital archive the articles “El homenaje del Consejo Cultural al poeta José Juan Tablada, fue de una alta significación artística y social: Algunos de los asistentes a esa fiesta, según nuestro caricaturista” (doc. no. 755265); y “Crónica: algunas notas sobre pintura: a José Juan Tablada, a Gerardo Murillo”, by Ángel Zárraga (doc. no. 781743)]. Tablada was one of the first significant poets of literary vanguard.
El Mundo Ilustrado (1894–1914)was one of the most emblematic publications during the time of Porfirio Diaz’s dictatorship, created by the father of modern journalism in Mexico, Rafael Reyes Spíndola (1860–1922). Like its name suggests, this weekly newspaper was profusely illustrated by notable artists and photographers of the time.