Barcelona

Francesc d’Assís Galí i Fabra (Barcelona, 1880-1965) was the artist behind the paintings on the dome of the Palau Nacional and one of the most influential figures in Catalan art in the first half of the 20th century.

Educated within the same intellectual circles as Pompeu Fabra, Galí revolutionised art education in Catalonia during the Noucentista movement. He taught artists such as Joan Miró and Llorens Artigas at his own School of Art, and also held a teaching role at the Escola Superior de Bells Oficis de la Mancomunitat de Catalunya, shaping an entire generation.

Galí also enjoyed a rich and varied career as a painter, draughtsman, muralist, poster designer and illustrator. His work spanned every major movement in Catalan modernity: Modernisme, Symbolism, Noucentisme and the avant-garde. However, despite his many achievements, Galí chose to play an invisible role, disregarding his own artistic identity, working in the shadow of his students and giving little thought to his legacy. This exhibition aims to shine a light on the man who preferred to stay hidden. It honours the imprint of someone who never intended to leave one behind. It also explores a pivotal period in the Museum’s early history, set against the backdrop of its ambitious expansion project, timed to coincide with the centenary of the 1929 International Exposition.

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