Francesc Sans Castaño

FRANCESC SANS CASTAÑO (Barcelona, 1868 - 1937).
"Flamenca", 1899.
Oil on canvas.
Signed in the lower right corner.
Measurements: 56 x 46 cm; 74 x 65 cm (frame).

Francesc Sans studied at the School of Fine Arts of Sant Jordi in Barcelona, and with the painter José Serra Porson. He participated in the National Exhibitions of Fine Arts of 1882, 1887 (honorary mention), 1890, 1899 and 1910, with the canvases "Drinker", "Pertiguero", "Ni envidiada ni envidiosa", "Caza", "Fantasia" and "Muerto!". In Barcelona he became known at the General Exhibition of Fine Arts in 1894, with his painting "La ergastula". Also in his hometown he obtained the third medal in the Universal Exhibition of 1911. He worked both portraits and genre themes, and also painted types of Spanish women with the classic mantilla, interesting gypsy heads, still lifes, flowers and landscapes. He also collaborated with different publications of the time and illustrated several books. Sans took part in several group exhibitions in different Salons in Barcelona, and participated in the Witcomb Salon in Buenos Aires in 1907 and 1908. Among his individual exhibitions it is worth mentioning those held in Barcelona, in the Sala Parés in 1918 and in the Salon El Siglo in 1923. In this last exhibition most of his works were acquired, which led him to exhibit again in that hall in 1925. An outstanding portraitist, within this genre it is worth mentioning his portraits of Àngel Guimerà, Alfonso XIII, Juan Sallarés, Joaquín Farrés y Aimerich and José Ricart y Giralt, among many other prominent figures of the time. Francesc Sans Castaño is represented at the MACBA in Barcelona and at the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo in Madrid.