JOSÉ CASANOVA LUJÁN (Valencia, 1933 - 1989). "Marina". Oil... Lot 34

JOSÉ CASANOVA LUJÁN (Valencia, 1933 - 1989). "Marina". Oil on canvas. Signed in the lower left corner. Size: 83 x 116 cm; 96 x 129 cm (frame). The Valencian painter José Casanova was born into a very humble family, and lived a hard childhood due to the war. However, at the age of thirteen he held his first exhibition at the Sala de la Asociación de la Prensa de Valencia, the opening of which was attended by the mayor of the city. He later entered the San Carlos School of Fine Arts, and combined his studies with his work in the restoration workshop of Rafael Vañó Marqués, where he acquired a solid technical preparation and a great mastery of the craft. In the fifties his successes began: he was awarded twice in the Provincial Art Exhibition, with second prize in 1952 and third prize the following year. He now began to sell his pictorial work in his closest circles, while working as a fan decorator and commercial painter. He finally abandoned all work other than easel painting, and in 1978 his work was recognised with the First Prize for Painting awarded by the Cullera Town Council. He exhibited frequently, always obtaining critical and public success, thanks to an eclectic work influenced by romanticism, impressionism, realism and hyperrealism, with themes ranging from landscape, mythology and biblical themes to costumbrist scenes of a historicist nature, always giving free rein to his fertile imagination. Casanova developed a neat language of exquisite figures and extraordinary play of light, through which he reflected a romantic, placid world, extinguished by the fleetingness of modern time. Casanova is currently represented in numerous institutional and private collections, both in Spain and abroad.