The painter and sculptor Juan Soriano, one of the important Mexican masters of art in the 20th century, passed away on February 10th at 85 years of age as a consequence of pneumonia. This outstanding plastic artist whose real name was Juan Francisco Rodriguez Montoya, the son of Rafael Rodriguez Soriano and Amalia Montoya Navarro, was born in Guadalajara in 1920 and began his artistic career at a very early age, at the age of 14 he participated for the first time in a group exhibition and two years later presented his first individual exhibition. Considered one of the most outstanding creators in Mexico, he was member of the intellectual generation that emerged through the revolution of 1910 and formed what was known as the New Mexican School of Art. His work, of figurative style, covered seven decades from painting to engraving, ceramic, sculpture and theatre scenography. Soriano was characterized for his use of color and forms, and during recent years he dedicated himself to sculpture, particularly the creation of monumental pieces in bronze. Juan Soriano received multiple recognitions throughout his life, among which were: the National Prize for Art (1987); the Official Medal of the Cross of Merit (Poland, 2000); Officer Grade in the Legion of Honor (France, 2004); the Prize for Universal Excellence (Mexico, 2005); the Velasquez Prize for Plastic Arts (Spain, 2005). His most recent exhibition, ¿The wings of Soriano¿, brought together 24 of his sculptures in small and large format and took place to commemorate his 85 years of age in the Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico. The exhibition was open until October 2005.