UIC Barcelona, through the Faculty of Humanities, has marked the 150th anniversary of the death of painter Marià Fortuny i Marsal with an exhibition and a series of cultural events at the Ateneu Barcelonès. Held on 21 and 22 May, the event forms part of the Year of Fortuny, an initiative launched by the Government of Catalonia to honour the legacy of one of the most important figures in 19th-century Catalan art.
The commemoration began on Wednesday 21 May with a dramatised tour in front of Fortuny’s bust on Carrer del Pintor Fortuny. This performance introduced attendees to the artist’s life and work and concluded with the opening of an informative exhibition at the Ateneu Barcelonès, which will remain on display until 22 June. The exhibition, organised into themed panels, explores various aspects of Fortuny’s career – from his academic training and official commissions to his modern technique, Orientalism, and travels to Granada, Rome and Naples. It also highlights his legacy and influence on later generations of painters.
The following day, Thursday 22 May, the Pompeu Fabra Room at the Ateneu Barcelonès hosted two lectures by renowned experts on Fortuny’s work. Francesc Quílez, curator of the Year of Fortuny, delivered the talk “Marià Fortuny: Glimpses of Modernity”, in which he emphasised the enduring relevance of Fortuny’s brushwork and his innovative contribution to European painting of the time. He was followed by Dr Sergio Fuentes, deputy director of the Sala Parés and lecturer at the University, who gave a presentation entitled “Fortuny after Fortuny”, an analysis of the lasting influence of the Reus-born artist on his contemporaries.
These events underscore the Faculty of Humanities’ commitment to research and the dissemination of Catalonia’s artistic heritage. As Dr Judith Urbano, dean of the Faculty, explains, “It is essential to continue promoting initiatives that shine a light on the contributions of artists like Fortuny to the history of art, both locally and internationally.”
This event completes the series of tributes that UIC Barcelona has dedicated to Marià Fortuny during the 2024–2025 academic year. Last November, in collaboration with the Amatller Institute of Hispanic Art Foundation and with the support of the Barcelona Provincial Council, the Faculty organised a three-day symposium on the painter. The sessions were held in iconic venues such as the Casa Amatller and the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC), and featured contributions from experts including Luis Ruiz, Emiliano Cano and Artur Ramon. On that occasion, the focus was not only on Fortuny’s work, but also on his international influence and modernity, which was well ahead of his time.
With these initiatives, UIC Barcelona and the Faculty of Humanities reaffirm their desire to be a benchmark in the dissemination and promotion of Catalan culture and art.
