Page 52 - Studio International - April 1965

composed, in which there are so many 'points of view'
that it seems more like a stone stage-set in the round
than a piece of traditional sculpture. From an earlier
generation, there are two sculptures by Manolo—a
lightly worked figurine and a large head of the Catalan
violinist Francisco Costa.
In trying to plot the course of Catalan art, Abell° has
not neglected the forerunners of the modern school.
Artists, whose names are only just beginning to be
heard above the clamour of the French Impressionists
—men like Mir, Rusinol and Sunyer—have hitherto
been chiefly in the hands of Spanish collectors. Now,
their works crop up in the international sales rooms, and
it looks as if they will shortly be taking their proper

has made some of the most graceful pottery yet to come place in the history of European painting. Abell° has
out of the West. He recently completed a large com- carefully chosen examples of such work; and naturally
mission for the New York World Fair. he has (for completion's sake) paintings by the great
Sculpture is another aspect of the arts in which Nonell, the inspiration of Picasso's Blue Period, an
Catalonia has long been recognised as an important artist whose stature few who have not visited the
source. A trip to Barcelona's Museo Mares will quickly Museo de Arte Moderno's Nonell rooms can truly
show the authority of the past for such a contention. recognise.
From the eleventh century onwards, the peculiar Abell° learnt his craft as a painter from Picasso's
talents of the region have provided a steady stream of friend Pruna, so not surprisingly his master is honoured
wonderful works. Abell° himself gives pride of place to in the long list of Catalan artists represented here.
1 a 12th century polychrome Virgin and Child, a wooden Outside the immediate range of Catalan works, the
Salvador Dali
Portrait of Juan Abelló sculpture that is well up to the exacting standards of collector has not been able to resist 'extra' purchases.
Pen and Wash Frederico Mares. But it is in the modern sculpture of He is very proud of his two small Guardis, but in the
2
Picasso Catalonia that the Abell° collection is particularly rich. main the non-Catalan works are of more recent origin.
Portrait of Juan Abelló Leaving aside the Roman remains that he has been able There is a splendid self-portrait of Foujita, dating from
3
Clavé to salve from local excavation, he has some fine the time when he was a young man and still counted
Child Playing (Clavés own son)
Drawing examples of work by Subirachs, Cubells, Gonzalez, as a formative force in the emerging School of Paris;
4 Saumells, Blasco Ferrer and Pellicer. The Subirachs is a so different from his newest work which attempts to
Miro
Three Personages 1933 complex piece, a kind of arena of activity, wonderfully bring about a new look in Christian Art. A late Braque
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