Part of the ashes of Spanish muralist Jose Vela Zanetti will be brought to the DR to be buried beside those of his friend, architect Jose Antonio Caro. Arch. Caro’s son, Danilo Caro told El Siglo newspaper that the ashes will be transferred to the DR following the wish of the renown Spanish painter. The muralist requested that his ashes be thrown into the Leon River, where he fished as a young man; a part kept in his house in Milagros, Spain, and another part be brought to Santo Domingo to be buried beside his Dominican friend. In this country, Vela Zanetti carried out several of his major works that are still preserved in local public institutions. Vela Zanetti came to the DR in 1939 at the end of the Spanish civil war, along with other Spanish intellectuals such as Mar?a Ugarte, Jesus de Galindez and Antonio Prats Vent?s. He migrated at 18 due to his opposition to the Franco regime. His works can still be seen at the church of San Crist?bal, Instituto Polit?cnico Loyola in San Crist?bal, the Bas?lica de la Virgen de la Altagracia in Higuey, Instituto Dominicano de Seguros Sociales, Banco de Reservas, Palacio de Bellas Artes, Palacio de Justicia, Museo de Historia y Geograf?a, Hospital Salvador B. Gautier, Banco Central, Secretar?a de Estado de Trabajo, and the Suprema Corte de Justicia, as well as in the home of architect Jos? Antonio Caro.
