SUNDAY IN SOMIO-GIJON, ASTURIAS

Painter of history, portraits, landscapes and seascapes; illustrator.

Juan Martinez Abades studied at the Escuela Especial de Pintura, Escultura y Grabado (School of Painting, Sculpture and Engraving) in Madrid. While he was there, he also took lessons from José Grajera. The award of a grant in 1887 enabled him to study in Rome. During his time in Italy he took the opportunity to visit Venice and Naples as well. He finally settled in Madrid in 1890.

He was influenced by the landscape painter Carlos de Haes and specialised in sunlit landscapes and seascapes, painting the sky, the sea and majestic ships with cold luminous tonality.

Juan Martinez Abades also worked as an illustrator for the magazine “Blanco y Negro” (Black and White). Towards the end of his life he started composing songs.
He regularly took part in national exhibitions at the Academy of Fine Arts in Madrid. Other exhibitions in which he participated include: Berlin (1891), Chicago (1893), the Exposition Universelle in Brussels (1910), Rome (1911), Munich (1913), Havana (1914) and Panama (1916). He was awarded many prizes and distinctions.