José Arpa facts for kids

José Arpa y Perea (1858–1952) was a talented artist born in Spain. He lived and worked in Spain, Mexico, and Texas. He was well-known for his paintings of everyday life, called Costumbrista studies, and his beautiful landscapes of Texas.

Life and Career

Early Life and Training

José Arpa was born in Carmona, Spain, on February 19, 1858. His family was not wealthy; his father was a cobbler. From a young age, José showed a great talent for drawing. He started learning art by working with a local painter and decorator.

In 1868, when he was ten, José went to Seville to study art. He attended the Academia Real des Bellas Artes (The Royal Academy of Fine Arts). To support himself, he worked as a house painter during the day. In the evenings, he went to art classes. Later, he studied with a famous teacher named Eduardo Cano at the Museum of Fine Arts of Seville. José was very good at his studies. He won the important Rome Prize three times. This prize allowed him to study art in Rome, Italy.

Developing His Style

When José Arpa returned to Seville, he was influenced by another famous Spanish painter, Marià Fortuny. Although they likely never met, Fortuny's style inspired Arpa. Arpa began to prefer painting outdoors, a style known as 'plein air'. He focused on everyday Spanish scenes and people. This type of art was called 'costumbrismo' in Spain.

Arpa stayed in Seville for nine years. During this time, he created many paintings and sketches. He also painted beautiful ceiling decorations in the Circulo Mercantil Sevilla (Seville Mercantile Building).

Time in Texas

Around late 1895 or early 1896, José Arpa was already a well-known artist. He traveled from Spain to Vera Cruz, Mexico, and then to Texas. He spent many years in San Antonio, Texas. There, he became an important figure in the art community.

Arpa organized summer painting camps and taught many students. Some of his most famous students included Xavier Gonzalez, Octavio Medellín, and Porfirio Salinas. He also helped start the "Brass Mug Club," a group of artists. Other members included Julian Onderdonk, Rolla Taylor, and Ernst Raba.

In 1923, Arpa opened his own art studio and school in San Antonio. He taught students how to paint landscapes and portraits. He often took his students outside the city into the hill country to paint nature. José Arpa showed and sold his paintings in all the places he lived.

Later Years

In 1932, José Arpa returned to Seville, Spain. He lived there until he passed away in 1952, at the age of ninety-four. Some of his large paintings, called murals, were displayed in the lobby of the San Antonio Express-News building in downtown San Antonio. You can still see some of Arpa's paintings in museums today. These include the San Antonio Museum of Art, the McNay Art Museum, and the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum in Canyon, Texas.

Work

"Muerte de Miguel de Mañara" (c. 1885)

José Arpa painted in a realistic style. He was especially known for using bright, vivid colors. He was also very skilled at showing how sunlight looked in his paintings. His artwork has been shown in many places. Ten of his paintings are part of the collection at the San Antonio Museum of Art. People have described his art as both Orientalist (showing scenes from the Middle East and Asia) and Spanish Impressionist (capturing light and everyday moments).

Select list of works

• Puenta de Sevilla en Carmona Spain, Sketch
• Carnival De Ichu, [Peruvian Festival], Watercolor
• Escena Callejera, [Alley Scene], Watercolor
• El Monasterio, [The Monastery], Pencil drawing
• Ciudad italiana, [Italian City], Ink drawing
• Andalusian Woman with Guitar, Oil on canvas
• Cactus Flowers, Oil on canvas
• Sevilla, Oil on canvas

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  Jose Arpa, Self Portrait, c. 1927, etching on paper

• 

  Along the Road, oil on board

See also

In Spanish: José Arpa Perea para niños