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| Born in Manresa in 1898. In 1911, he begins his studies at the Manresa College of Arts and Trades. In 1919 he moves to Barcelona and goes to work in Salvador Alarma’s studio and broadens his studies. In 1927 he is appointed assistant lecturer in perspective at the Theatre Institute. In 1941 he takes possession of the stage design studio at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, a studio he occupied from 1941 to 1971. He receives the Silver Medal from Barcelona Provincial Council, the Silver and Gold Medals from Manresa City Council, the National Theatre Award presented by the Government of Catalonia and Barcelona City Council and the Gold Medal of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, as well as the Golden Poster from the theatre’s consortium. He was Professor of Perspective at the Sant Jordi Higher College of Fine Arts in Barcelona and the Theatre Institute. 1898 Born in Manresa into a family associated with the decorative arts. 1904 His vocation emerges: he draws trading cards of the Russo-Japanese War and makes drawings for his school magazine. 1911 He starts at the College of Arts and Trades in his home city and begins working in Bonaventura Corrons’ decorative arts studio. 1914 He is appointed manager of Bonaventura Corrons’ studio. 1918 He completes his studies and wins the Chamber of Commerce Gold Medal for the best student in his year. 1919 He moves to Barcelona. He joins the studio of the famous stage designer Salvador Alarma. He enrols at the College of Fine Arts. 1921 He goes to Buenos Aires to fit the ceiling and proscenium arch at the Cervantes Theatre, opened by María Guerrero’s company, the owners and founders of the theatre. 1924 He marries Isabel Lanaspa. 1925 Advised by Alarma, he creates two paintings on Wagnerian themes to decorate the hall of the house of the tenor Francesc Viñas. 1926 He is appointed manager of Salvador Alarma’s studio. 1927 He is appointed assistant lecturer on perspective and stage design at the Theatre Institute. He takes part in an exhibition organised in Sants together with Ramon Casas and Isidre Nonell. 1928 He goes to Madrid to mount an exhibition of theatrical set models by Salvador Alarma at the Fine Arts Circle. 1929 Dioramas for the Barcelona International Exhibition and the Ibero-American exhibition in Seville. His daughter Isabel is born. 1934 He makes the first sketches for the first of his own stage designs: Els Pastorets for the Foment Mataroní theatre. 1936 The students at the Theatre Institute have Mestres appointed a tenured lecturer in stage design, replacing Alarma. He makes one of his greatest discoveries in the field of perspective: the master angle. 1940 He paints the first of his 104 pictures of Burgos Cathedral. The first stage designs planned, made and signed by him. 1941 He accepts the Gran Teatre del Liceu’s offer to take over the studio and do jobs for that company and for other customers. First individual exhibition of his paintings in the Sala Barcino in Barcelona. He sells almost all the works exhibited. 1942 The first two operas with his stage designs open at the Gran Teatre del Liceu: Lohengrin and Parsifal. He exhibits at the Sala Vilches in Madrid. 1947 For the centenary of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, he paints the ceiling of the two vestibules of the Rest Room. 1950 He paints four altarpieces for the great church La Seu in Manresa. 1953 Stage design for the world premiere of the opera Canigó. 1955 For the arrival in Barcelona of the Bayreuth Festival Company, he makes various Wagnerian characters to decorate the shop windows in Pelai, Barcelona. 1956 Last stage design for the Gran Teatre del Liceu: Tristan and Isolda. First trip to Venice, a city that charms him and which he will visit three times. 1959 Exhibition at the Sala Grifé i Escoda with his works on Venice. 1959 He gains the post of professor at the Sant Jordi College of Fine Arts by competitive public examination. 1961 The Barcelona Provincial Council awards him the Silver Medal of Theatrical Merit. 1962 Medal from the Theatre Institute. 1963 For the International Fair in New York, he paints a series of twelve dioramas alluding to Christopher Columbus and the discovery of America. 1964 He publishes his Tratado de perspectiva (Treatise on Perspective) (two volumes). 1967 The government of Venezuela commissions twelve new dioramas on Christopher Columbus from him. 1968 Manresa City Council awards him the City’s Silver Medal. 1970-1971 He has to retire from the Theatre Institute and the College of Fine Arts, after they extend his contract for another year. 1972-1975 He works on an album with 25 sanguines and another with 25 gouaches for the 125th anniversary of the Gran Teatre del Liceu. 1977 Opening of the Mestres Cabanes Room at Manresa County Museum. 1981 The book La catedral de Burgos en la pintura de Mestres Cabanes is published. 1983 To mark the centenary of Wagner’s death, he paints twelve gouaches on works by the composer, published in the form of lithographs by the magazine Monsalvat. 1985 The Government of Catalonia and Barcelona Provincial Council present him with the National Theatre Award (stage design section). 1985 Sketches for Brossa’s play La pregunta perduda o el corral del lleó. 1986 His wife dies. 1987 Sketch for a picture called L'Estel de Nazaret for the Sant Vicenç Centre in Sarrià. 1989 Burgos City Council places a bust of Mestres in front of the cathedral. Manresa City Council presents him with the City’s Gold Medal and establishes the foundation that bears his name. The Society of the Gran Teatre del Liceu awards him its Gold Medal and the consortium awards him the society’s Golden Poster. An anthological exhibition of his work is staged and The Mastersingers of Nuremberg is performed with his stage design. He makes a series of sanguines on Wagnerian themes. 1990 On 17 September he dies at his house in Barcelona. |
Josep Mestres Cabanes, in 1975. |
