The cornerstone of the Palau de La Musica Catalana was laid on April 23, 1905, to honor the patron saint of Catalonia, St. George. This art piece by Domenech I Montaner features Catalan cultural elements while exemplifying the modernist style. At the center is the Catalan shield and the artwork also incorporates the Senyera, which is the Catalan flag, to symbolize Catalan nationalism. Choral music, a symbol of Catalan culture, is also showcased in this piece. The representation of the song “Les Flores de Maig'' is a reference to traditional Catalan music. The trencadis technique (using broken ceramic pieces) is employed to incorporate several chromatic colors. When looking at the muses, their dresses convey luxury which is a typical element of modernism. Modernism prioritizes creativity over authenticity (a 19th-century ideal) which is emphasized in winding and sensual figures instead of symmetrical and proportionate ones. This artwork utilizes other features of modernist art including the use of lighting, curved lines, natural elements, and a myriad of colors.
Image Source:
Cazurra, Anna. Image of the Palau de La Musica Catalana stage. Music in Art, vol. 27, 2002, pp. 116. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41818710. Accessed 2 Dec. 2020
Text Source:
Cazurra, Anna. “The Symbolism of the Muses of the Palau De La Música Catalana.” Music in Art, vol. 27, no. 1/2, 2002, pp. 116–126. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41818710. Accessed 2 Dec. 2020.