Eusebi Arnau

EUSEBI ARNAU MASCORT (Barcelona, 1864 - 1933).
"Mother's kiss", ca. 1898.
Marble.
Signed.
Measurements: 65 x 73 x 52 cm.

The sculptor Eusebi Arnau was formed in the School of Fine Arts of Barcelona, and was a disciple of Jose Gamot. From 1887 he continued his studies in Rome, thanks to a scholarship of the School of La Lonja. Later he extended his training at the Julian Academy in Paris, exhibiting his works at the Salon of the French capital in 1895 and 1902. Later he opened his own workshop in Barcelona, where he had disciples such as Pablo Gargallo and Josep Dunyach. Arnau will carry out numerous commissions, such as the altarpiece of the basilica church of Santa Engracia in Zaragoza, where he worked with Josep Llimona. On the other hand, his sculptures applied to architecture made him stand out as a modernist sculptor. Some examples are those made for the Lleó Morera and Amatller houses, the Hotel España, the Palacio de la Música Catalana and the Hospital de San Pablo, all in Barcelona. He was also a regular collaborator of the architect Enric Sagnier Villavecchia, with whom he worked on the Customs building of the Port of Barcelona, the Ruper Garriga House, the Via Crucis of Montserrat, the Expiatory Temple of the Sacred Heart, the parish of the Sacred Heart of Poblenou, the agency of the Caixa de Pensions in Reus and other projects. He also excelled as a medal maker, producing, among others, the medal of the Universal Exposition of Barcelona in 1888, the Catalan Solidarity medal, the Columbus Centenary medal and the commemorative medal for the demolition of the walls of Barcelona. Throughout his life, Arnau took part in numerous exhibitions in Spain, Chicago, Mexico City and Paris. He was awarded a bronze medal at the Universal Exposition of Barcelona in 1888, an honorary diploma at the Fine Arts Exposition of the same city in 1891, and a prize at the 1896 Exposition; honorary mention in sculpture at the National Exposition of Madrid in 1899, first class medal in decorative arts at the National Exposition of 1908, gold medal of the Artistic Circle of Barcelona at the International Art Exposition of 1911, and third class medal at the National Exposition of 1912. Currently we can find public monuments by Arnau in Barcelona, Madrid and Villafranca, and other works by him in Barcelona, Comillas and Zaragoza. He is also represented in the National Art Museum of Catalonia.