José María Vilà Cañellas

JOSÉ MARÍA VILÀ CAÑELLAS (Vic, Barcelona, 1914 - Barcelona, 2001).
"Calella de Palafrugell", 1941.
Oil on canvas.
Signed and dated in the lower left corner.
Measurements: 27 x 41 cm; 36 x 50 cm (frame).
José María Vilà Cañellas was formed in the School of Vic, in the Alemany of Barcelona and in the School of Fine Arts of Olot, besides studying painting with Miguel Humbert and engraving with Javier Noguels. He was a disciple of Joan Colom, Ivo Pascual and Emilio Bosch-Roger. He began to present his work in group exhibitions and competitions in 1932, and held his first individual exhibition in 1941, in the Barcino room in Barcelona. During these years he reiterated his presence in this hall (1942) and in the Gaspar (1945), exhibiting later in Palma de Mallorca, Vitoria, Valencia, Madrid and various Catalan cities, especially Barcelona. His awards include the third medal at the National Exhibition of Fine Arts in Madrid in 1948, for his work "El mercat de Vic"; the prize at the Llavaneras landscape competition in 1950; and the Masriera Gold Medal in 1953. He cultivated the landscape, of impressionist concept, generally in large formats, always accompanied by the human presence or its trace. Vilà Cañellas is currently represented in the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, as well as in other public and private collections.