It was known that at the end of the 40s, César Manrique had painted murals on the walls of the bar of the old Casino de Arrecife, which during that time had its facilities in the current Casa de la Cultura Agustín de la Hoz. One of the works was documented. The César Manrique Foundation, FCM, had a black and white photograph from 1947, but the constant modifications and remodeling of the building did not allow to locate the exact place of these paintings. Now, the rehabilitation works of the Casa de la Cultura have brought them to light and could represent an important finding, since they would be the first murals that the artist painted in his career.
For the moment, only one of the works is known, thanks to the documentary references with which the FCM has. From this they assure that it is a mural made during the stage in which César Manrique studied in Madrid, between 1945 and 1950. The images that are represented are of customary tint, with a "picturesque character", but also with "modernist" influence, according to the FCM.
As for the other mural, it is known that it was made prior to those that decorate the walls of the Parador, where the Tourism Board is located, which would make these two murals the first that the artist created.
According to the Councilor for Culture of the Arrecife City Council, Miguel Ángel Ferrer, the paintings are in "bad condition" and barely "a few sketches are perceived". "It had been painted several times on them", comments the mayor. The FCM has already hired a specialist to prepare a report and determine the state of conservation of the paintings. For the moment, the works have been paralyzed in the area of the discovery, pending the reports by the technicians.
