Mariano Andreu
Encyclopedia
Mariano Andreu was a Spanish painter, drawer, enamelling master, sculptor, and stage designer.
He was born in Barcelona
in 1888 and lived his early childhood above the "Circo Barcelonés" in the Calle Montserrat. Early on he was affiliated to the "Noucentistes" movement, named by his friend Eugenio d'Ors. He studied in London under Alexander Fisher an enamaller of the Central Arts & Crafts School in London. Returning to Barcelona Andreu made one of the world's largest enamels, the triptych "L'Orb" using contemporary enamelling techniques of the day.
He left Spain for Paris, with his wife Philomene ("Filo") Stes, he became involved in stage design; he carried out works such as Voleur d'Images, Sonatina for the Opéra-Comique
in 1929, La guerre de Troie n'aura pas lieu for Louis Jouvet
's Théâtre de l'Athénée (1935). For the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo he designed costumes and sets for Capriccio Espagnol
, which premiered in Monte Carlo in 1939. He designed costumes for the 20th Century Fox film That Lady
(1955, starring Olivia de Havilland and Paul Scofield) and the short ballet film Spanish Fiesta (1942).
He was invited to London by John Gielgud
to design the sets and costumes for Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing
, in 1949. He also designed the sets and costumes for Hector Berlioz
's Les Troyens
, directed by Gielgud at Covent Garden
in 1957. In 1951 he designed Sir Alec Guinness's Hamlet
and in 1955 All's Well That Ends Well
, for Noel Willman.
Early exhibitions in London were seen at the Claridge Gallery and the Leicester Gallery.
Throughout his life Andreu produced some 30 Livres de Luxe, for which he early on gained an enviable reputation as one of the finest lithographers and illustrators of his day.
His work is held in many public and private collections in France, the United States, Great Britain and Spain.
He was born in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
in 1888 and lived his early childhood above the "Circo Barcelonés" in the Calle Montserrat. Early on he was affiliated to the "Noucentistes" movement, named by his friend Eugenio d'Ors. He studied in London under Alexander Fisher an enamaller of the Central Arts & Crafts School in London. Returning to Barcelona Andreu made one of the world's largest enamels, the triptych "L'Orb" using contemporary enamelling techniques of the day.
He left Spain for Paris, with his wife Philomene ("Filo") Stes, he became involved in stage design; he carried out works such as Voleur d'Images, Sonatina for the Opéra-Comique
Opéra-Comique
The Opéra-Comique is a Parisian opera company, which was founded around 1714 by some of the popular theatres of the Parisian fairs. In 1762 the company was merged with, and for a time took the name of its chief rival the Comédie-Italienne at the Hôtel de Bourgogne, and was also called the...
in 1929, La guerre de Troie n'aura pas lieu for Louis Jouvet
Louis Jouvet
Louis Jouvet was a renowned French actor, director, and theatre director.- Life :Overcoming speech impediments and sometimes paralyzing stage fright as a young man, Jouvet's first important association was with Jacques Copeau's Théâtre du Vieux-Colombier, beginning in 1913...
's Théâtre de l'Athénée (1935). For the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo he designed costumes and sets for Capriccio Espagnol
Capriccio espagnol
Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34, is the common Western title for an orchestral work based on Spanish folk melodies and written by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov in 1887. Rimsky-Korsakov originally intended to write the work for a solo violin with orchestra, but later decided that a purely orchestral work...
, which premiered in Monte Carlo in 1939. He designed costumes for the 20th Century Fox film That Lady
That Lady
That Lady is a 1955 film directed by Terence Young. It stars Olivia de Havilland, Gilbert Roland and Paul Scofield.The film is based on the 1946 historical novel by Kate O'Brien, which was published in North America under the title For One Sweet Grape. The novel was also produced as a play in 1949....
(1955, starring Olivia de Havilland and Paul Scofield) and the short ballet film Spanish Fiesta (1942).
He was invited to London by John Gielgud
John Gielgud
Sir Arthur John Gielgud, OM, CH was an English actor, director, and producer. A descendant of the renowned Terry acting family, he achieved early international acclaim for his youthful, emotionally expressive Hamlet which broke box office records on Broadway in 1937...
to design the sets and costumes for Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy written by William Shakespeare about two pairs of lovers, Benedick and Beatrice, and Claudio and Hero....
, in 1949. He also designed the sets and costumes for Hector Berlioz
Hector Berlioz
Hector Berlioz was a French Romantic composer, best known for his compositions Symphonie fantastique and Grande messe des morts . Berlioz made significant contributions to the modern orchestra with his Treatise on Instrumentation. He specified huge orchestral forces for some of his works; as a...
's Les Troyens
Les Troyens
Les Troyens is a French opera in five acts by Hector Berlioz. The libretto was written by Berlioz himself, based on Virgil's epic poem The Aeneid...
, directed by Gielgud at Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
in 1957. In 1951 he designed Sir Alec Guinness's Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
and in 1955 All's Well That Ends Well
All's Well That Ends Well
All's Well That Ends Well is a play by William Shakespeare. It is believed to have been written between 1604 and 1605, and was originally published in the First Folio in 1623....
, for Noel Willman.
Early exhibitions in London were seen at the Claridge Gallery and the Leicester Gallery.
Throughout his life Andreu produced some 30 Livres de Luxe, for which he early on gained an enviable reputation as one of the finest lithographers and illustrators of his day.
His work is held in many public and private collections in France, the United States, Great Britain and Spain.