Álvaro Alcalá Galiano y Vildósola facts for kids
Álvaro Alcalá Galiano y Vildósola (born May 21, 1873, in Bilbao; died November 27, 1936, in Madrid) was a Spanish painter. He was also known for creating beautiful art for buildings.
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Early Life and Art Training
Álvaro was born into an old, important family. He held some special titles. For example, he was a "Mayordomo de Semana" for King Alfonso XIII. This meant he helped the King with daily tasks.
He started learning art from teachers like Adolfo Guiard. When he was young, he wanted to study art in Paris. But his parents wanted him to stay in Spain. So, he studied in Madrid with famous artists. One of his teachers was Joaquín Sorolla. Sorolla thought Álvaro was one of his best students.
Travels and Painting Style
In 1902, Álvaro traveled a lot. He visited places like Brittany, the Netherlands, and Germany. He looked for ideas for his paintings. He wanted to try new styles.
He often painted scenes from everyday life. These are called genre scenes. He also painted costumbrista scenes. These show the customs and traditions of a place. Besides these, he was good at painting landscapes. He also created large murals for buildings.
Art Exhibitions and Awards
Álvaro showed his art in many important exhibitions. He won several awards at the National Exhibition of Fine Arts. He earned Third Class prizes in 1897 and 1899. He won a Second Class prize in 1901. In 1920, he won a First Class prize for his painting "La Senda" (The Path).
He also won awards outside Spain. He received a bronze medal at the Salon in Paris in 1910. He won a Grand Prize in Panama in 1916.
Murals and Other Work
You can see his large murals in several important buildings. Some are in the Biscay Foral Delegation Palace. Others are in the old headquarters of the Ministry of the Navy. He also painted murals in the Palace of Justice. He created art for many private homes too.
Álvaro also helped organize art shows in Bilbao and San Sebastián. He was the president of a group called the Spanish Painters and Sculptors Association. He even wrote about art. He used the pen name Juan de Eguía.
Later Life
During the Spanish Civil War, Álvaro was arrested. He passed away in November 1936.
Selected paintings
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Cleaning Sardines
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The Path
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Fruit Sellers
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After the Grape Harvest
See also
In Spanish: Álvaro Alcalá Galiano y Vildósola para niños
