ANTONIO MARIA FABRES Y COSTA

(Spanish, 1855-1938)

YOUNG MUSICIANS IN A COURT-YARD

Watercolor over Pencil on Paper

13 ½ x 9 Inches

Signed Lower Right ‘AFabres’

Antonio Fabres y Costa first studied with Mario Fortuny at the Escuela de Bellas Artes in Barcelona and, due to Fortuny’s influence, received a scholarship in 1874 to further his studies in Rome.  He received his first Gold Medal at the Munich Exposition of 1876 and was awarded another at the Vienna Exposition of 1878. Moving to Paris, Fabres y Costa exhibited widely and with success throughout Europe, receiving many of the continent’s most prestigious awards and prizes and also serving as Professor of Art in Mexico City from 1902-1907. We are pleased to offer this exceptionally fine and detailed figural watercolor dating to the late 19th Century. The artist’s mastery of his favorite medium may be seen in details as varied as the draperies, the ceramic glazes and the textures of the skin-tones and hair of the young subjects.

Reference:

Benezit, Dictionnaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs, et Graveurs, Vol. 5   p. 249, Thieme-Becker, Allgemeines Lexikon der Bildenden Kunstler, Vol. 11/12, p. 165 ;  Davenport’s Art Reference Guide, 2007/8 Edition, p. 836;  et al.