Located just outside of the city center, the Museu de Arts Decoratives in the Palau Reial de Padralbes (seen below) is definitely worth the quick subway ride. The museum focuses on the decorative arts and interior design from Barcelona throughout history. The palace also contains a ceramic and a clothing museum, but I'll bring those to you at another date.
Probably my favorite object in the museum was this dramatic decorative screen by Francesc d'Assis Gali. Gali was an artist and educator who practiced in an art school he founded in 1906 until his death in 1965 which produced such pupils as Juan Miro and Josep Artigas.
The screen dates to 1929, a very important year as it turns out (especially for Gali) as it is the year of the Barcelona Universal Exhibition (think
Barcelona Pavilion) of which he was the Artistic Advisor.
The fair not only put Gali on the map internationally, but also Barcelona which has such a rich history of design. I'll be sharing with you some of my favorite items in this museum over the next few weeks -would love to hear what you think of them!
The fair not only put Gali on the map internationally, but also Barcelona which has such a rich history of design. I'll be sharing with you some of my favorite items in this museum over the next few weeks -would love to hear what you think of them!
What a wonderful screen. I love that it is set on a rich ebony background.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
pve
That screen is the ticket for sure, one could design room after room around it! Gorgeous....
ReplyDeleteScreen is wonderful. Is it lacquer?
ReplyDeleteYes David, it's lacquer. Getting a picture without glare was hard (the lighting in the museum wasn't neccesarily the best).
ReplyDeletePVE - I always think black is the best background as it recedes -thats why I keep it here on the blog!
CJ - I would LOVE to have to design a room around this screen -namely my living room! ha
I think a whole house - this would spill out of any room.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the look at Barcelona. I'll be going there perhaps in January and I'll youryour posts as a reference!
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing - looks almost like a native version of WPA which of course was a bit later but I'm always amazed how styles occur throughout the world simultaneously. Have never been to Barcelona but everyone says it is incredible. Looking forward to seeing more.
ReplyDeleteI love the screen - isn't it interesting how impalas were used so often as a Deco theme?
ReplyDeletegorgeous photos--I love the screen, vibrant visuals and the story of the museum. Can't wait for more!
ReplyDeleteI love this screen too. Is there a story to the panels? Do you know what the scene is depicting?
ReplyDelete