Francesc Masriera facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Francesc Masriera
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Portrait of Francesc Masriera by Ramon Casas, date unknown
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Francesc Masriera i Manovens
October 1842 Barcelona, Spain
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| Died | 15 March 1902 |
| Nationality | Catalan/ Spanish |
| Education | Apprenticeship with Josep Serra i Porsón |
| Known for | Painter, writer and goldsmith |
| Movement | Orientalist |
Francesc Masriera i Manovens (born October 21, 1842, died March 15, 1902) was a talented Spanish artist from Barcelona. He was known for his paintings of people and his beautiful work as a goldsmith. His art often showed influences from a style called Orientalism.
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About Francesc Masriera
Francesc Masriera came from a family of artists. His family included painters, people who designed theater sets, and silversmiths. He started learning art in his father's workshop.
When he was just thirteen years old, he traveled to Geneva. There, he learned special ways to paint on enamel. In 1857, he and his brother Josep became apprentices. Josep also became a famous painter. They learned from Josep Serra i Porsón, a professor at the Escola de la Llotja.
In 1865, Francesc and Josep traveled to London and Paris. They might have worked for a short time in the studios of Alexandre Cabanel.
His Art Career
Francesc opened his first art studio in 1871. He showed his work at the "Exposició General Catalana." The next year, he went back to Paris by himself. He connected with Goupil & cie, a very important art dealer at that time.
In 1878, he won second prize at the National Exhibition of Fine Arts. This was for his painting called "La esclava" (The Slave). King Alfonso XII later bought this painting. In 1889, he won a medal at the Exposition Universelle, a big world fair.
For most of his life, Francesc also worked in his family's jewelry business. It was called Masriera y Hijos, and later Hermanos Masrieras.
The Masriera Workshop
Between 1882 and 1884, Francesc and Josep built a special workshop. It was on Bailen Street in Barcelona. The building looked like an ancient Roman temple, the Temple of Augustus. Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas designed this unique building.
At the entrance, there were statues made by Josep Reynés. These statues honored other famous artists, Eduardo Rosales and Marià Fortuny. The Masriera brothers kept their large art collections in this workshop. It became a major cultural spot in the city. People came to see art shows and even watch plays there.
Later, in 1932, the workshop became the Teatre Studium. Today, it is a home for nuns from the "Petita Companyia del Cor Eucarístic de Jesús."
Other Talents
As a jeweler, Francesc was famous for using a difficult technique called Plique-à-jour. This method makes enamel look like stained glass.
He also enjoyed writing plays as a hobby. He often wrote for a weekly "magazine" called El Recuerdo. His brother Josep and their friends created this magazine, but it was never actually published.
Selected paintings
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In the Presence of the Lord (1891)
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Reclining Lady (1894)
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Winter (1882)
See also
- List of Orientalist artists
- Orientalism
