It is known that Feliciano Ibáñez was born on July 1, 1867, but not the exact date of his death. Along with other artists of his generation—a term not yet used to refer to artistic promotions—he studied at the prestigious San Alejandro Academy, where he distinguished himself for his early talent.

His mentor was the painter Camilo Salaya, with whom he collaborated on the decoration of the Terry Theater in Cienfuegos. During this period, he also designed several stage sets for plays, which contributed to his treatment of space and the way he selected motifs for his paintings. He was also significantly influenced by another of his teachers, the painter Meissonier.

The independence struggles and their leading figures served as the primary inspiration for Feliciano Ibáñez’s works, complementing the politically charged sense of nationality that other contemporaries had developed, emphasizing vernacular nature and the social fabric. He not only placed his art at the service of the cause but also contributed funds to its continuation.

Among his works of this nature are Battle of Bad Weather—one of the most popular—the Battle of El Caney, the Battle of Jimaguayú, and the Battle of Palo Seco, all of which belong to the Domingo Galdós collection. Also in this vein is Blood Hospital, which depicts one of the harshest aspects of the conflict. His portraits include several of Antonio Maceo and Máximo Gómez, as well as the poet José Jacinto Milanés.

He also had a little-known career as a draftsman, which was featured in several issues of the newspaper Cacarajicara, among others. His work reached other parts of the world, including art capitals like Paris, where he exhibited the piece The Hour of the Appointment in 1900. He enjoyed a fruitful symbiosis with other artists, such as Francisco Pierrá and Miguel Ángel Melero, with whom he completed the Battle of Champigni.

A painter of our heroic deeds, it is said that even Máximo Gómez posed for the artist. He conveyed his creative passion to these pieces, which capture emblematic moments of the confrontation with Spain, which helped preserve our history and, in a sense, transform it into an inspiring legend for future generations.