This article will analize the images of two Peruvian national heroes, Miguel Grau and Tupac Amaru II, within history textbooks produced between 1969 and 2010. Based on a visual anthropological approach, I will discuss the relationship between the scholar field, the national projects and the construction of the nation. This will be done through comparative analysis of the images of both heroes; which will include interviews with school teachers of Regular Basic Education in charge of the areas of civic education and social sciences, as well as interviews with players in the textbook publishing business. The article will also include my extensive work experience in this field.