Carlos Nadal Archives - Vanessa Clewes Salmon

Carlos Nadal RA (1917-1998)

Carlos Nadal RA (1917-1998) first learnt to paint in his father’s studio in Barcelona. Santiago Nadal had a successful business designing posters and theatre backdrops; it was here that Carlos first met the likes of Matisse, Dufy, Utrillo and Braque all of whom had a profound influence on his artistic development. It is generally believed that Nadal was one of the last artists with direct connections to the original Fauve painters.

Apart from his informal education in his father’s workshop, he studied at the School of Arts and Crafts and the Senior Fine Art Academy of St George; he fought in the Spanish Civil War, escaped from a concentration camp, returned to his art studies and in 1942 Nadal had his first solo exhibition after which he moved to Paris where he met Picasso.

Carlos Nadal was popular in his own lifetime receiving many scholarships and awards and became a member of The Royal Academy in London. Today he is regarded as ‘the last wild expressionist of Spain’; his work has a joyous freedom, naïvety and vibrancy blended with a unique perspective. He is widely exhibited and collected especially in Spain, Belgium, France and the United States.

Carlos Nadal, Blue Boats

Gouache, 23 x 30 cms, signed, dated 1972

18 June, 2020