Lluís Montané

LLUÍS MONTANÉ I MOLLFULLEDA (Sant Celoni, Barcelona, 1905 – Barcelona, 1997).
"Female Nude."
Patinated bronze.
Signed on the base.
Measurements: 51 x 20 x 33 cm.

The female nude occupied a central place in Lluís Montané’s sculptural oeuvre, which was closely linked to the Catalan Mediterraneanist and Noucentista traditions. In this work, the kneeling figure is constructed through a pronounced twist of the torso and a marked anatomical stylization, moving away from a strictly naturalistic representation. The modeling contrasts the smooth, luminous surface of the body with the more expressive treatment of the hair and the rough texture of the base, while the tilt of the head conveys an introspective attitude.

Lluís Montané trained at the Escola de Belles Arts de Llotja, was a student of Antoni Alsina, and worked in Eusebi Arnau’s studio. In 1928, he received a grant from the Barcelona Provincial Council that allowed him to further his studies in Italy, Belgium, and France, and in Florence he was awarded the Donatello Prize. He produced a wide range of portraits, nudes, mythological subjects, and monumental works, and his pieces are held at the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, among other institutions; in 1992, he was awarded the Cross of Saint George.