Exclusive Limited Edition Prints Many historians date the beginning of Haitian art with the opening of the Centre de Arte in Port-au-Prince, by DeWitt Peters in 1944. However, artistic activity has always held a place in Haitian history. As early as 1807, Henri Christophe encouraged the development of art in the new independent Black Country. In 1816, Alexandre Petion helped a French artist to establish an art school in Port-au-Prince. Although some smaller schools arose during those early years, the emphasis of the art was on religion and portraiture. The artist has been paid a fair price. Hands of Hope will use any profits to support various projects in Haiti including The House of Hope and three Schools in Port du Paix Northern Haiti.