Cau Ferrat Museum facts for kids
Cau Ferrat is a cool museum in Sitges, a town in Catalonia, Spain. It used to be the home and art studio of a famous artist named Santiago Rusiñol. He was a very important person in the Modernisme art movement in Catalonia. Cau Ferrat is one of three museums right by Sant Sebastià beach in Sitges.
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History of Cau Ferrat
Santiago Rusiñol (1861–1931) was born in Barcelona. His family wanted him to work in their cotton business. But Santiago chose a different path. He became a painter, writer, and collector. He was a key figure in the Modernisme art movement. Rusiñol believed art was super important. He thought artists were special people chosen to live for their ideals.
Rusiñol used Sitges to share his ideas about "Total Art." He thought art could be like a new religion. He held special events called the Festes Modernistes (1892–1899). He also built Cau Ferrat (1893–1894). In 1898, he opened a monument to the artist El Greco. All these things made Sitges a very important place for Modernisme. Rusiñol became a leader of this new art movement. He wanted to change society through culture.
Rusiñol first came to Sitges in October 1891. He loved it and kept coming back often. In 1893, he decided to buy a small fisherman's house. It was right by the sea in the Sant Joan area. The house had a strange history. Its last owner left it to "Our Lord God." This meant the money from the house was for prayers for her soul. So, Rusiñol had to get special permission to buy it. The sale was finally approved on July 30, 1893.
Rusiñol paid 1,000 pesetas for the house. He then spent 2,000 more to tear it down. He wanted to build a new home and studio. The architect Francesc Rogent designed the new building. He used large Gothic windows from Sitges's old castle. The castle had just been taken down to build a new Town Hall. Rusiñol's new home was named Cau Ferrat. This was the same name as his old studio in Barcelona. He had shared that studio with his friend Enric Clarasó.
Soon, Rusiñol realized he needed more space. In May 1894, he bought the house next door. This completed the Cau Ferrat building as we see it today. In September, he moved his amazing collection of wrought iron here. On November 4, during the third Festa Modernista, there was a big opening. Rusiñol planned it to happen when two paintings by El Greco arrived. He had bought them in Paris a few months earlier.
Rusiñol spent a lot of time at Cau Ferrat between 1894 and 1899. But he didn't just want to live there. He wanted to create his own special art collection. Cau Ferrat became a popular meeting place. Many famous artists and writers visited. These included Joan Maragall, Emilia Pardo Bazán, and Pablo Picasso. Other visitors were Eugène Ysaÿe, Ernest Chausson, Àngel Guimerà, Benito Pérez Galdós, Víctor Balaguer, Ángel Ganivet, Enrique Granados, Narcís Oller, and Manuel de Falla.
When Rusiñol passed away, he left Cau Ferrat to the town of Sitges. He wanted it to become a public museum. The museum officially opened on April 16, 1933. Rusiñol's gift completed his dream. He wanted to share the beauty he found in Sitges with everyone. Every item in Cau Ferrat tells a bit of Santiago Rusiñol's story. It shows his life and his art. The museum helps visitors understand this amazing artist.
Museum Collections
Cau Ferrat has many different collections. They show Rusiñol's love for art and history.
Paintings and Drawings
The museum's collection of paintings and drawings is very large. It includes many works by Rusiñol himself. These were the pieces he loved most and kept all his life. You can also see art by other leading Catalan artists. These include Ramon Casas, Pablo Picasso, Arcadi Mas i Fondevila, Isidre Nonell, Hermenegildo Anglada Camarasa, and Ramon Pichot. Many of them were Rusiñol's friends. The paintings show Rusiñol's taste. They also show the popular art styles of his time. These styles include Impressionism, Modernism, and Symbolism. You can see these works as you walk through the museum rooms.
Ironwork
Rusiñol was famous for collecting ironwork even before he was known as a painter. He and his friends loved old iron pieces. Thanks to them, wrought iron art became more respected. It was no longer seen as a "lesser" art form. People started to study it more. This also led to a new appreciation for ironwork in Modernisme buildings. You can see this in the designs of famous architects like Gaudí.
Glassware
Rusiñol's glass collection arrived after Cau Ferrat was built. It's not just one type of glass. It's actually two big collections with almost 400 items. Rusiñol bought them at different times. The Great Hall has glass from modern times. The Sala del Brollador (Fountain Room) has older, archaeological glass. These items show many different ways glass has been made throughout history.
Furniture and Sculpture
When you first enter Cau Ferrat, you'll see so many things! The museum is packed with items. Sometimes, it's hard to notice everything. Furniture and sculptures are often missed. People might think they are just decorations. But many of these pieces are very valuable and interesting on their own.
Ceramics
Santiago Rusiñol also collected a lot of ceramics. Most of this collection is on the ground floor of Cau Ferrat. You'll find it in the Kitchen/Dining-room and the Sala del Brollador. There are over 200 items here. They range from the 14th to the 19th century. You'll see plates, bowls, jars, washbasins, and more.
These ceramic pieces come from many different places. About a quarter are from Catalan potteries. But there are also pieces from Valencia, Aragon, Castile, Andalusia, and Murcia. The collection also has some items from Majorca, Italy, and Florence.
See also
- Maricel Museum
- Can Llopis Romanticism Museum
- Santiago Rusiñol
In Spanish: Museo Cau Ferrat para niños
