Modest Urgell facts for kids

Modest Urgell in his studio (1903)

Modest Urgell i Inglada (born June 13, 1839, in Barcelona; died April 3, 1919, in Barcelona) was a Spanish painter. He was best known for his amazing landscape paintings. People also knew him by his nickname, Katúfol. He used this name for his cartoons and drawings.

A Young Artist's Journey

Early Life and Art Studies

• Modest Urgell was born into a rich family.
• When he was young, he loved theater and acted in plays with friends.
• But his family wanted him to study painting instead.
• So, he agreed to become an artist.

• He studied at the Escola de la Llotja in Barcelona.
• His teachers included famous artists like Ramón Martí Alsina and Lluís Rigalt.
• In the 1860s, he tried to show his paintings at the Escola.
• However, his art was not accepted there.
• He then showed his work in Madrid, but it did not become popular.

Finding His Style

• In 1868, Modest Urgell traveled to Paris, France.
• There, he met the famous painter Gustave Courbet.
• He was also inspired by the Barbizon school of painting.
• This group of artists loved painting nature outdoors.

Untitled landscape

• In 1870, a sickness called yellow fever spread in Barcelona.
• Modest Urgell moved to Olot to stay safe.
• There, he joined other artists like Antoni Caba and Joaquim Vayreda.
• They painted landscapes outdoors, a style called plein air.
• This experience made him decide to paint only landscapes.

Success and Teaching

Exhibitions and Awards

• After 1877, Modest Urgell often showed his art at the Sala Parés gallery.
• His paintings also won awards at important art shows.
• He won prizes at the National Exhibitions in 1876, 1892, and 1895.
• He also received awards in Barcelona, Munich, and Philadelphia.

Becoming a Professor

• In 1894, his old teacher Lluís Rigalt passed away.
• Modest Urgell then became a professor.
• He taught perspective and landscape painting.
• He taught at the Escola de Belles Arts de Barcelona [ca], a famous art school.
• In 1900, he helped start a new art group.
• It was called the "Sociedad Artística y Literaria de Cataluña."

Other Interests

Return to Theater

• In the late 1890s, Modest Urgell went back to his first love: theater.
• He worked as a director for plays.
• He also wrote several plays himself.
• One of his plays was a comedy called Lluny dels Ulls, a Prop del Cor.
• This means "Far from the Eyes, Near to the Heart."
• It was shown at the Teatre Principal in 1901.
• Most of his plays were set in the countryside.
• However, his plays were not very successful.

His Artworks

• Modest Urgell mostly painted landscapes.
• He also painted scenes of the sea.
• His paintings often showed quiet, lonely places.
• These included cemeteries and old monasteries.
• He also drew pictures about important events.
• These included the Tragic Week of 1909 and the Rif War.
• His son, Ricardo Urgell Carreras, also became a painter.

See also

In Spanish: Modesto Urgell para niños