Mariquita Sánchez de Thompson y de Mendeville, also known as Mariquita Sánchez de Thompson, was an Argentine socialite and activist from Buenos Aires. She was one of the city's leading salonnières, whose tertulias gathered many of the leading personalities of the time. She is widely remembered because the Argentine National Anthem was sung for the first time in her home, on 14 May 1813.
Portrait of Sánchez de Thompson and her children by Jean-Philippe Goulu, ca. late 1820s
María Sánchez de Mendeville (1845), portrait by Johann Moritz Rugendas, National Historical Museum
The Argentine National Anthem being played for the first time at Sánchez de Thompson's house. Painting by Pedro Subercaseaux
The only known photographic image of Sánchez de Thompson, a daguerreotype from 1854
Argentine National Anthem
The "Argentine National Anthem" is the national anthem of Argentina. Its lyrics were written by the Buenos Aires-born politician Vicente López y Planes and the music was composed by the Spanish musician Blas Parera. The work was adopted as the sole official song on 11 May 1813, three years after the May Revolution; 11 May is therefore now Anthem Day in Argentina.
French transcription for piano by Luis Messemaeckers, published in 1822. This is the oldest sheet music found of the Argentine national anthem outside of Argentina.
The Argentine National Anthem being played for the first time in Mariquita Sánchez's house (painting by Pedro Subercaseaux)
Music sheet found in Santa Ana de Velasco, Bolivia, c. 1860
