P0095

Paintings for the mayor’s honor office at Barcelona City Hall

Ref Num.: P0095

Date: 1929-1933

Typology: Painting

Technique: Oil on canvas attached to the wall

Dimensions: –

Signed: Unsigned and undated

Barcelona, City Hall, mayor’s office

From 1929 to 1933, Xavier Nogués designed and painted the wall decorations for the mayor’s office at Barcelona City Hall. On Plandiura’s advice, the then mayor, the Baron of Viver, commissioned Nogués to undertake the task. The artist began working on the project in Paris, where he produced a series of preparatory sketches, and continued in Barcelona. The murals feature allegorical episodes that evoke the 19th-century Catalan revival movement, the Renaixença: In praise of Mr Esteve (the prototypical, enterprising and thrifty Barcelonian), Allegories of the trade links between the Americas and Barcelona (established by the Catalan adventurers, known as “indianos”, who made their fortune in the Americas and the Indies and the ship’s captain), Barcelona’s power (industry, transport, etc.) and, lastly, Catalonia’s spiritual renaissance (arts, literature, music and traditions).

Image rights: Dani Rovira, with the approval of Barcelona City Council.

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Cecília Vidal, Xavier Nogués (1873-1941), Fundació Xavier Nogués, Editorial Àmbit, Barcelona, 2011, p. 113. Cecília Vidal Maynou (dir.), Xavier Nogués (1873-1941), Alfa Books, Fundació Xavier Nogués, Barcelona, 2021, pp. 173-177.