As of Thursday, the portrait of the former rector of the University of Santiago de Compostela, Antonio López, is now part of the Rectors Gallery on the first floor of the Rectorate headquarters, at the Colexio de San Xerome. The artwork was created by artist and president of the Academia Galega de Belas Artes, Manuel Quintana Martelo.
During the ceremony, attended by the governing team that accompanied López during his eight years in office, as well as the current team of Rosa Crujeiras and administrative staff, the former rector expressed feeling "very well treated" and "very satisfied with the result." He highlighted the importance that Quintana Martelo places on capturing light, which he believes is well reflected in the artwork.
In the portrait, Antonio López is depicted wearing the academic attire of a rector with his cap in hand, featuring a four-leaf clover. This element was a specific request from the protagonist, holding special significance for him. Each leaf of the clover represents an aspiration: love for the University, faith in public universities as a tool for societal formation and transformation, the hope that the Compostela University will continue to be the "brain of Galicia" as spoken of by Castelao, and the good fortune of being part of this institution, having the trust of the university community, and the support of his family.
López concluded by stating that the portrait represents not only a rector but also a collective effort, and that all collaborators should feel represented by the work.
For her part, rector Rosa Crujeiras expressed her "enormous satisfaction" in continuing to complete the gallery of rectors, "because after all, we continue to write the history of the University of Santiago this way."
The artist, Quintana Martelo, mentioned that it was "very easy" to work with Antonio López, whom he described as "the first living rector I have portrayed," referring to the portrait he painted of rector Rodríguez Cadarso based on a photograph.
