Haydee Scull (1931 - 2007) Cuban

Mixed Media on Canvas

Measure 40"in H x 60"in W and 45"in H x 64 3/4"in W with frame

Haydée and Sahara were born on December 5, sometime in the 1930s in Cuba. They were intentionally secretive about the exact year of their birth all of their lives, desiring to conceal their exact age. They had Mexican, Cuban and Chinese ancestry in their family but were culturally associated with Cuba. Haydée and Sahara Scull, the daughters of a Mexican-Cuban doctor, grew up poor in Havana. Both girls showed an early inclination towards the arts, which was heightened by exposure to their grandfather, who was a respected painter of churches throughout Cuba. As children, they made drawing of Havana's street life and once created a three dimensional replica of the house across the street, complete with a miniature figure of the girl who lived there. The young girl, however, misunderstood their intention as an act of mockery and was insulted; the twins were punished for their art. Life became more difficult after the death of their father in 1945. However, they remembered their father's encouragement to finish school and pursue higher education, so the Scull sisters attended the Escuela de Bellas Artes de San Alejandro in Havana, which is considered to be the Cuba's oldest and most prestigious art school. They graduated in 1952. Haydée Scull married a photographer with whom she had two children, Michael and Elizabeth. In 1991 the city of Miami commissioned the Sculls to create a painting to commemorate a visit by Queen Elizabeth of England. The Queen was painted at Viscaya Palace, a well-known Miami landmark. In the piece, the Queen is standing on one of the stone boats that adorn the grounds of Viscaya. She is feeding the manatees wearing her trademark gloves. The painting was presented to Queen Elizabeth as she toured Viscaya Palace. In 1995 the internationally renowned Cuban singer Willy Chirino commissioned the sculls to create a painting for the cover of he's new CD called "Asere".Haydee Scull died of coronary artery disease on October 23, 2007. Sahara was grief-stricken by her sister's death but vowed to continue making art with her nephew Michael and grandniece Haydee. However, Sahara only lived a few months longer than her sister and died on May 31, 2008, apparently also from coronary artery disease. In 2010, an artwork made by the Scull sisters sold for approximately $25,000.

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