Francesc d'Assís Casademont i Pou was born in Barcelona, on the 14th of November, 1923, from a family origin from Figueres belonging to the so called small middle class of Barcelona. His father who introduced him to theknowledge and love of art to the point that, once he finished high school,he encourages him to go to the Estartit so that he may start painting from the natural. It was the summer of 1939, the same year he met Joaquim Mir for
the first time.
Despite the strength of their vocation he agreed to follow the career of Industrial Engineering -his future foreseen dedication to the family business so required-. He studies at the French Institute of Barcelona (where in 1949 and 1950 he will present an exhibition of painting and design) and at the Llotja, though in an irregular way. At the time, he got acquainted with the sculptor Carles Collet, from whom he learned not only some theoretic concepts but also the basics and fundamental techniques of such different arts as sculpture, ceramics, enamel and engraving.
As a consequence of the foundation of the Cercle he contacted the nucleus of
artists that frequented it, this experience being decisive in his formative process. He accepts the advise of the sculptor Claude Collet and meets Josep Maria de Sucre.
Alter his father's death, Casademont will continue with the family company which will force him to give up a scholarship granted by the Cercle Maillol, consisting in a stay in Paris. Later on, he marries Mariàngels Mercader i Camps who will give him two sons: Francesc and Berta. His artist side will induce him to dedicate his life to the adventure of art. Before, however, he
goes through a period as teacher and engraver. He joins the Viaró School as a plastic arts and painting professor; he also teaches at the Escola de Decoració. In the Viaro School he creates the Art Department. In the Escola de Decoració he writes a History of Furniture Styles which is incorporated to his cathedra. Casademont writes the text of the El vell ametller (the old almond tree), educational paper illustrated with the
paintings of his pupils. In this stage he works with Xavier Figueras for the editorial of Magisterio Español S.A., developing the Colibrí and Yunque collections, which implies a total of eleven volumes.
His name becomes known internationally when he exhibits, in 1953, at the Bordeaux Artistic Center. His name can also be found amongst those of collection of engravers that in 1957 the Rosa Vera recull takes to the
Galliera Museum of París. A year later he is awarded the first prize of engravings at the Fall Salon of the city of Palma de Mallorca. In 1960 he wins the first medal of engraving at the V Mostra Internazionale of Lugano. In 1961 ha wins the first prize of xylography of the II Bienale della incisione, at Pescia, Italy. In 1969 he receives the first price of engraving at the XIV Girona Art Contest, of national scope.
He receives countless demands for select editions and from bibliophiles. His presence is to be mentioned in the books Dotze paisatges urbans de
Barcelona (twelve urban views of Barcelona), in the Rosa Vera collection, Sol de España (1967-68), in the Natua editions, and Ombres et Lumières (Shadows and Lights) (1965) at the Meddens editions, in Belgium.
Casademont will intensely live the world of art as of the year 1961. He
appears in the catalogues of the May Salon (1962,1967,1968). In 1967 he carries out his first exhibition that can be named as professional, which will be framed at the Pinacoteca. He starts a series of continuous travelling. He will reside in Paris, sharing dwellings with the painter Xavier Valls. He contacts all Catalan artists arriving into France to breathe a different air. He will paint and exhibit at Honfleur, Normandy, London, Àustria ... He visits the German museums, travels through Africa and becomes in love with New York?s light. He does not forget Spain and the
Castilian plain or the Pyrenees. All this assortment of images and sensations will shape his oils.
Years later he Hill leave Barcelona, to reside in Sant Cugat del Vallès. This period will be represented by his interest in the geometric and cubic
shapes. It will not be long before he decides to establish himself with his family in Cadaqués, where he will live for 17 years. From this period we can mention the exhibition carried out at the Blondel Gallery, under the name Cadaqués vist de nou (Revieuwing Cadaques). Later on, he will definitely settle down in a rural house not too far from la Bisbal.
Ever since, he has carried out numerous exhibitions, whether individually or collectively, at the main art galleries of our country and abroad. At
international level he has exhibited in Europe: Paris, London, Berlin, Roma,Düsseldorf, Wien, Basel, Zurich in America: Washington, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco in Asia: Tokyo and Taiwan.
We can admire some paintings by him in several museums, such as the Barcelona Modern Art Museum, the Paris Louvre -Gavinet des Étampes- Paris,
the Florida Dali Museum, Graz National Museum, the Museu-Pinacoteca of the Monastery of Montserrat.
Quite numerous is also the bibliography and filmography regarding his person: Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana, 1969 (Great Catalan Enciclopedia); Dos siglos de pintura catalana (Two centuries of Catalan Painting) by J.M.Garrut, 1974; L'art català contemporani (The contemporary Catalan art) by Alexandre Cirici, 1977; La luminosidad analítica de Casademont (Casademont?s analytical luminosity) by Julio Trenas, 1977; Presència: figura i paisatge (Presence, figure and landscape) by F. Galí, 1979; Cent anys de pintura a Cadaqués (One hundred years of painting at Cadaques) by J.J.Tharrats, 1981; La pintura contemporánea en Mallorca (Contemporaneous painting in Mallorca) by Gaspar Sabater, 1982; Il lirismo de Francesco Casademont (Francesco Casademont?s lyrism) by Enrico Bellari, 1984 ...Amongst the films: Casademont in Cadaqués, Tecnicine. Dir. J. Boch, 1978 -Documentary Figaro Films- and Casademont Le Vieux. Serveis Vídeo, Empordà, 1986.
Among the distinctions granted we should emphasize The Gold Medal at the Sala of the Vichy?s City Hall, Honorary President of the Vernet Academy, adoptive son of the Estate of Estiria, in Graz (Austria) and, most specially, the Creu de Sant Jordi, granted in 1994, by the Generalitat de Catalunya when he is appointed Academy Member of the Reial Acadèmia de Belles Arts de Sant Jordi, of Barcelona.
Independently of his paintings, Casademont, as we have already mentioned, has cultivated the engraving as well as the design and the ceramics. He has
also been very fond of writing. His writing ability has brought him to important contests. He has edited the books: Pirineu, two editions, 1947, with xylographic text and illustrations; The Sun of Spain, 2 edition, in Catalan and in Spanish, Ed.Nauta, 1966; The infant great book, pictures, Ed. Nauta, 1968; Colibríi Yunque (already mentioned), 11 pedagogical volumes with the collaboration of Xavier Figueres. Ed. Magisterio Español,
1971-1972; Sono Cosí -poems of the soul - 1998-1999.
Go to the painter's exhibition
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