Llorenç Cerdà

LLORENÇ CERDÀ I BISBAL (Pollença, 1862 - Palma, 1955).
"Coastal landscape", 1953.
Oil on canvas.
Signed and dated in the lower right corner.
Measurements: 75 x 100 cm.

At the beginning of the XX century, the work of Llorenç Cerdà would derive towards the landscape, until making it his main motive of inspiration, the center of his work. He created large, realistic panoramas, with a certain solemnity, where, as we move towards his maturity, the painter shows a growing interest in capturing light. In his most characteristic work, then, the drawing loses precision and becomes more synthetic, more sketched. The color, intense and contrasted, gains importance, together with the brushstroke, the expressive and blurred stroke. These characteristics are those that can be seen in the work we now present, where the light falls strongly on the stone cliffs, highlighting the warm tones of the same.

Llorenç Cerdà i Bisbal was initially trained at the Academy of Fine Arts of Palma, between 1879 and 1981, and later at the Special School of Painting. Later he would be granted scholarships to complete his apprenticeship in Madrid, between 1883-84, and in Rome, between 1885-86, where he would share a classroom with, among others, Sorolla, Mariano Benlliure, Enric Simonet and others. His painting would be greatly influenced by Antoni Ribas, Joan Mestre, Ricardo Anckermann, Carlos de Haes and Vicente Palmaroli González, who would be director of the Spanish Academy of Rome during the time of his stay. His painting drinks, therefore, of a strong classicism and the idealized realism of the Majorcan painting of the 19th century. Throughout his career he would direct the School of Arts and Crafts and the Museum of Fine Arts of Palma and would also be elected academician of the Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando of Madrid. Between 1924 and 1955 he was vice-president of the Commission of Monuments of the Balearic Islands and would also be vice-president of the Academy of Fine Arts of San Sebastian. He trained numerous painters, among them Pere J. Barceló Oliver, Simeó Cerdà Juan, Josep Pons Frau or Joan Pizà Canyelles. His youthful work is centered on the human figure, with numerous scenes of costumbrista type, like Lavadero público de Santa Catalina (1891), Feria de santo Tomàs en Palma (1892), Pescadores (1892) or La vuelta del trabajo (1898).