We are looking at a new creation by Miguel Valverde that exalts the values ??of modern medicine. Resting upon a rocky foundation—representing ancestral knowledge—is the great book of wisdom; from it emerge figures of contemporary physicians performing surgery on a patient who embodies suffering humanity. Yet, from the book’s very core springs the light of science, spreading into a neuronal sea where anatomical figures float, representing advances in our understanding of the human machine. These advances allow for the defeat—albeit temporary—of death, which lies vanquished at the figures' feet in the form of a skeleton. From the skull of this allegorical figure emerge other skulls, devoured by a serpent representing wisdom; its scales transform into seeds that usher in new life, manifesting as plant forms—marked by a caduceus—that yield the medicines used to combat disease. The cycle concludes with a woman giving birth to new life.
This stands as the artist's finest mural to date; his career continues its upward trajectory, demonstrating increasing painterly maturity and mastery of concept, draftsmanship, and color. The bold use of red—the color of life and blood—deserves special mention; rendered in a full spectrum of shades, it contrasts with the cool blue of the doctors' coats, reminding us that they are guided by a rigorous intellectual detachment, albeit one tempered by touches of humanity. Green tones—complementary to the red—not only represent elements of nature but also, through contrast, lend luminosity and intensity to the reds, making them glow with light. The skeleton’s bold and skillfully executed foreshortening allows us to appreciate the mastery of drawing the artist has achieved.
UACH Professor: José Pérez Delgado
