The Life of Manolo Hugué
Born in Barcelona in 1872, Manuel Martinez Hugué, known as Manolo Hugué, was a Spanish sculptor associated with the noucentisme movement. During his time in Paris from 1900 to 1909, he was part of the artistic circle at the 4 Gats and lived at the Bateau Lavoir alongside Pablo Picasso, Guillaume Apollinaire, and Max Jacob. To sustain himself in Paris, Manolo worked primarily on jewellery and small sculptures.
In 1910, he moved to Céret with Frank Burty Haviland and Déodat de Séverac. While there, he began producing larger works, such as a Monument for Déodat de Séverac in 1923 and a Monument for the Dead in 1924. Due to health issues involving arthritis, he later moved to Caldes de Montbui, Spain.
Artistic Career and Legacy
Manolo Hugué's career included participation in the 1913 Armory Show and a large solo exhibition at the Grand Palais in Paris in 1932. He was supported by Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler from 1912 until 1933 and became a member of the Reial Acadèmia Catalana de Belles Arts de Sant Jordi.
His personal history includes:
- Marriage to Jeanne de Rochette, known as Totote.
- An adopted daughter named Rosa Jordana, called Rosita.
Manolo died in Caldes de Montbui on 17 November 1945. His house in Caldes is now the Museu Thermalia, which houses the Manolo Fund and works by Picasso. His personal papers are kept in the Biblioteca de Catalunya.
