Antonio Bisquert Pérez facts for kids
Antonio Bisquert Pérez (born June 29, 1906, in Valencia – died June 8, 1990, in Madrid) was a Spanish painter and art restorer. He played an important role during the Spanish Civil War by helping to protect Spain's valuable artworks.
A Young Artist's Journey
Antonio Bisquert Pérez was born in Valencia in 1906. He showed a strong talent for art from a very young age. In 1925, Bisquert joined the San Carlos School of Fine Arts in Valencia. Here, he won top awards in drawing and painting. He also became a student of the famous sculptor Mariano Benlliure.
During his time at art school, he made friends with many new and exciting artists. One of them was José Renau. After finishing his studies, Bisquert started working as a painting restorer. He worked at the Naval Museum of Madrid alongside Julio García Condoy.
In 1930, he became a teacher at the "Escuela de Artes y Oficios" in Madrid. Four years later, in 1934, he won a special scholarship called the "Conde de Cartagena." This award came from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando. The scholarship allowed him to travel and study art in other countries. He visited France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. This trip helped him meet many international artists.
Protecting Art During Wartime
The Spanish Civil War took place from 1936 to 1939. During this difficult time, Antonio Bisquert was given a very important job. He was appointed to the board for protecting Spain's artistic treasures. This group was called the "Junta de Defensa del Tesoro Artístico".
Bisquert became a technical advisor for the board. His job was to gather, protect, and save valuable paintings from Spanish collections. He helped move these artworks to Valencia to keep them safe from bombings in Madrid. During the war, he also worked for the Alliance of Antifascist Intellectuals and Artists. He created many drawings and posters. These artworks often showed messages about society and the war. One of his posters, "¡Por el orden republicano!," even won a national award.
Life After the War
After the war ended, Antonio Bisquert faced some challenges. A special commission prevented him from returning to his old job as a restorer in Madrid. So, he decided to open his own art restoration studio. He received many important projects. For example, he restored paintings in the Sala de Batallas. He also worked on the ceiling murals at the Casita del Príncipe, both located in El Escorial.
As a painter, Bisquert's style changed over time. Early in his career, his paintings were bright and full of light, similar to the artist Sorolla. Later, he explored abstract art, creating unique works using the Collage technique. In his final years, he returned to a more realistic painting style. Antonio Bisquert Pérez passed away in Madrid in 1990. A special exhibition of his artworks was held in Madrid in 1992. It also featured works by his friend, Luis Brihuega.
See also
In Spanish: Antonio Bisquert Pérez para niños