Helena Almeida: 'Seduzir' [To Seduce, 2002] (detail)

Collection

Relieve en homenaje a los subgobernadores Francisco Belda y Javier Mateos [Relief in Tribute to Franciso Belda and Javier Mateos, Deputy Governors of the Banco de España]

Image caption
LORENZO COULLAUT VALERA

Relieve en homenaje a los subgobernadores Francisco Belda y Javier Mateos [Relief in Tribute to Franciso Belda and Javier Mateos, Deputy Governors of the Banco de España]

  • 1931
  • Marble and bronze
  • 134 x 163,5 x 23 cm
  • Cat. E_23
  • Comissioned from the artist in 1931
By:
Isabel Tejeda

During the early decades of the 20th century, the employees of the Banco de España commissioned Lorenzo Coullaut Valera to make a number of works to show their appreciation either to the institution, its managers or a colleague. Coullaut made five pieces: two in the monumental sculpture style, one bust and two relief plaques. Apart for some minor details, all of these works follow the formal discourse typical of the Academy and use allegorical features common to that tradition.

A year before his death, in 1931, the employees again commissioned a plaque in tribute to the then Deputy Governors of the Banco de España, Messrs. Belda and Mateos. Notably, this piece uses two different artistic languages: while the profile portraits in bronze are in a clear academic tradition, the plaque is crowned with an entirely art deco ornamental feature in white marble.

Isabel Tejeda

 
By:
Isabel Tejeda
Lorenzo Coullaut Valera
Marchena (Seville) 1876 - Madrid 1932

A descendent of the writer Juan Valera, Lorenzo Coullaut Valera was the patriarch of a long line of sculptors. He was succeeded by his son Federico (b. Madrid, 1912 – d. La Granja, Segovia, 1989) and later by his grandson Lorenzo (b. Madrid, 1944 – d. La Granja, Segovia, 2002). His work remained within the tradition of academic statuary, rooted in nineteenth-century discourses, albeit with modernist touches towards the end of his career. Although Coullaut was born in Andalusia and spent time in France – his father was a French engineer and Lorenzo moved to Nantes with his family in 1880 – he settled and set up his studio in La Granja de San Idelfonso in the mid-1880s. He is known to have studied with the Sevillian sculptor Antonio Susillo and with Agustín Querol. In 1897, he won his first award (an honorary mention) at the 1897 National Exhibition for a bust of his uncle Juan Valera, the novelist, whom he was to portray on other occasions.

Coullaut accepted quite a large number of commissions for public works, for which he created formally academic structures. Examples include his Monument to Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer (Seville, 1910); Monument to Campoamor (Madrid, 1914); Monument to Enrique Peinador (Mondariz, Pontevedra, 1919); Monument to the Álvarez Quintero Brothers (Madrid, 1934); Monument to Cervantes in the Plaza de España (Madrid, 1926-1930), completed by his son Federico and the Monument to Juan Valera (Madrid, 1928).

In 2002, the National Glass Centre Foundation organised an anthological exhibition of the work of Lorenzo Coullaut Valera and his decendants. In 1990, a museum of his work was opened at the Morón Gateway in Marchena.

Isabel Tejeda

 
 
Vv.Aa. Colección Banco de España. Catálogo razonado, Madrid, Banco de España, 2019, vol. 1.