más pesada, después que su mujer y su hija regresaran intem- pestivamente a Francia, al no lograr acostumbrarse a Santiago. A comienzos de 1849, el gobierno decretó la creación de una escuela de arquitectura, de modo que, desde un principio, Brunet de Baines debió compatibilizar su actividad profesional con el trabajo docente. En estas circunstancias, preparó y dictó el primer curso de arquitectura en Chile, redactando, además, el texto docente complementario que publicó en 1853. A pesar de todos estos esfuerzos, sacrificios y de su extraordinaria productividad, Brunet de Baines recibió duras críticas. En parte debido a la incomprensión local de una disciplina desconocida y, por lo mismo, muy poco valorada, como también por las exigencias del arquitecto. A consecuencia de lo anterior, su salud se vio quebrantada, y justamente cuando ya expiraba el contrato y preparaba su regreso a Francia, la muerte lo sor- prendió, repentinamente, con apenas 55 años. 3
On May 1, 1848, Brunet de Baines signed an employment contract as an official architect of the Republic, in order to work between 1848 y 1855.2 The document stipulated that he would be responsible for executing all civil architecture projects on behalf of the government or municipalities, although he could spend his free time on personal projects. Finally, he stated that if the Chilean government decided to create an architecture school, he would be responsible for setting it up and directing it. Santiago in 1850 When Brunet de Baines arrived in Chile, a large group of intel- lectuals, including foreign artists and scientists, were already in the country working for the government to consolidate its national identity. Chile at that time enjoyed social and political stability unusual among the other countries of the region, which enabled it to allocate significant resources to further the process of building the nation. In this context, the figure of Brunet de Baines has acquired a particular significance and his work has become a fundamental reference of that process. Particularly, because he transformed the capital´s image, transforming it from a dusty village into a modern city. The nature of the commissions that he received attests to this. Although these commissions can be understood as simple isolated initiatives, when examined as a whole, we can as an official architect of the Republic, in order to work between 1848 y 1855. 2 The document stipulated that he would be respon- sible for executing all civil architecture projects on behalf of the government or municipalities, although he could spend his free time on personal projects. Finally, he stated that if the Chilean government decided to create an architecture school, he would be responsible for setting it up and directing it. A Professional Architect in Chile We know that on November 16, 1848, Brunet de Baines dis- embarked at the port of Valparaíso, accompanied by his wife and daughter, and immediately began to work on government commissions. The vast amount of activities carried out in such a short period of time, helps us imagine his heavy workload; "overwhelming", according to Pereira Salas, which must have become even heavier after his wife and daughter returned un- timely to France because they could not get used to Santiago. At the beginning of 1849, the government declared the creation of an architecture school, so Brunet de Baines had to combine his professional activity with his teaching from the beginning. Under these circumstances, he prepared and taught the first architecture course in Chile, and also wrote the accompanying teaching text that he published in 1853. Despite all these efforts, sacrifices, and extraordinary productivity, Bru- net de Baines received harsh criticism. Partly due to the local misunderstanding of an unknown discipline and, therefore, undervalued, as well as due to the demands of the architect. As a result of the above, his health broke down, and just as his contract was expiring and he was preparing to return to France, he was suddenly taken by surprise by his death at the age of 55. 3
X Pasaje Bulnes. Brazo norte-sur (desde el Portal Sierra Bella a Huérfanos), c. 1870. Fuente: Archivo fotográfico Museo Histórico Nacional de Chile. X Bulnes Passageway. North-south side (from Portal Sierra Bella to Huérfanos), c. 1870. Source: Photographic archives from the Chilean National Historical Museum.
2 The contract between C.F. Brunet de Baines and Francisco Javier Rosales, Paris, May 1, 1848. ARNAD, Fund of the Chilean Legation in France and Great Britain, Volume 30. 3 The Messenger, Santiago Chile, Monday, June 18, 1855, p. 3 .
3 El Mensajero, Santiago de Chile, lunes 18 de junio de 1855, p. 3.
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Patrimonio / Heritage
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