Lluís Dalmau

Virgin of the Councillors, ca. 1443–1445, now in the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya Lluís Dalmau (also spelled Luis Dalmau; Valencia?, c. 1400 – Barcelona?, c. 1460) was a Spanish painter associated with the Hispano-Flemish style of the 15th century. He played a pivotal role in introducing Netherlandish realism into Catalan Gothic painting. He was active in Barcelona from 1428 to 1460 and served the king of Spain in an official capacity.

Biography Lluís Dalmau was probably born in Valencia around the beginning of the 15th century, although exact details of his birth and early life remain uncertain.

In 1431, Dalmau received 100 gold florins to cover the expenses he would incur in traveling to Flanders, accompanied by the royal master of tapestries, who would facilitate contacts with Flemish artists.

Dalmau’s stay in Flanders is estimated to have lasted close to five years, since the artist is mentioned again in July 1436, when he was paid wages and materials for the decoration of a tent made in Valencia by order of the king. It is also thought that there may have been another trip to Flanders between 1438 and 1443, the year the contract for the altarpiece of the Virgin of the Councillors was signed, a period for which there are no records of the painter.

After completing this work, he continued to reside in Barcelona, and on 15 September 1448 he was commissioned to produce the altarpiece of Saint Baldiri of Sant Boi de Llobregat. Chapel of Saints Cosmas and Damian, Barcelona Cathedral

Altarpiece of Saint Baldiri

Image Panel Date Medium Description Location 150px Altarpiece of Saint Baldiri 1448 Oil on panel Only a few panels from this altarpiece survive: the central panel, the most significant, remains in its original location; the Beheading of Saint Baldiri, now in the MNAC; and the Judgement of Saint Baldiri before the king, today in the Hans Rudolf Gerstenmaier collection. Parish church of Sant Boi de Llobregat 150px Beheading of Saint Baldiri 1448 Oil on panel The panel formerly belonged to the Barraquer collection in Sant Feliu de Guíxols and was acquired by the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya on 31 May 2017, thanks to the financial support of the Palarq Foundation. Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya

Lost works Among the lost works, documentary evidence records commissions for the king as well as religious works, including: