Apel·les Mestres facts for kids
Apel·les Mestres i Oñós was a talented artist from Catalonia, a region in Spain. He was a writer, a graphic artist, and an illustrator. He was born in Barcelona on October 28, 1854. He passed away in Barcelona on July 19, 1936.
Contents
About Apel·les Mestres
Early Life and Education
Apel·les Mestres' father, Josep Oriol Mestres, was a famous architect. His father worked on many big projects in Barcelona. One project was taking down the old city walls.
Apel·les went to a French high school. He also studied at the Escola de la Llotja, an art school. There, he showed a special talent for drawing funny pictures called caricatures. Some of his art teachers were Antoni Caba, Lluís Rigalt, Claudi Lorenzale, and Ramon Martí Alsina.
Travels and Influences
Apel·les Mestres visited Switzerland many times. He traveled with his friend, Pompeu Gener, who was a writer. In Switzerland, Apel·les was inspired by different things. He liked the idea of federalism, a way of organizing government. He also enjoyed the poems of Heinrich Heine. The funny drawings of Rodolphe Töpffer also influenced his art.
Later, Apel·les worked for important magazines. He drew comics and jokes. He also designed the main titles for articles.
Home Life and Creativity
In 1885, Apel·les married Laura Radénez. She was from Paris and also had some artistic talent. They did not have any children. Their home was a cozy apartment in the old part of Barcelona. It had a lovely garden with hydrangea flowers on the roof. This home became a popular meeting spot for artists and writers in Barcelona.
Apel·les believed that books were a complete art form. He was involved in every step of making a book. This included choosing the paper, designing the cover, and even the way the book was put together.
Facing Challenges
In 1912, Apel·les had to stop drawing. He started to have problems with his eyesight. Two years later, he was almost blind. But he did not stop being creative! He would play songs on the piano. Then, professional musicians would help him write down the music. Many famous singers, like Conchita Badía, have recorded his songs.
Awards and Legacy
In 1915, Apel·les wrote a book of poems called Flors de Sang. This means "Flowers of Blood." The poems were about World War I. The book won him several awards. The French government even gave him the Cross of the Legion of Honor. Later, these poems became very popular with soldiers during the Spanish Civil War. Apel·les Mestres died shortly after that war began.
In 1938, a special marble monument was built for him. It is in a park at the foot of Tibidabo mountain. Today, there is also a literary prize named after him. This award is given for illustrated children's books.
See also
In Spanish: Apeles Mestres para niños
