José Cuchí y Arnau
Arecibo, PR, 1875 - 1936
Biography Details
Painter, draftsman, and illustrator. After his first contact with art in Arecibo and San Juan, and having studied engineering in the United States, in 1874 Cuchí y Arnau went to Spain to study art at the Escuela Especial de Pintura in Madrid. There he also studied under painters Casto Placencia and Emilio Sala and watercolorists Alejandro Ferrant and Martín Rico. Cuchí y Arnau had a significant career as an illustrator of newspapers and books, among them Madrid Cómico and the works of Víctor Hugo and Chateaubriand. In his paintings, which he signed “Cuchy,” he worked in portraiture, the representation of popular characters, and still lifes. He returned to the island at the turn of the century.
Artist Statement
"...the color contrasts and ease and grace of the drawing, everything in this small painting reveals the impressive skills of the creator..."
Un cuadrito de Cuchí, El Buscapié, San Juan, Puerto Rico, mayo 1 de 1892, p. 5.
Formation
Education
nd
- Courses with Spanish painters Casto Placencia, Emilio Sala, and watercolorists Alejandro Ferrant and Martín Rico.
- Engineering courses. United States
- Seminary. Colegio de los Jesuitas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1874
- Escuela Especial de Pintura, Madrid, Spain
Professional Experience
1881
- Contributor. Casa Seguí Encyclopedia, Barcelona, Spain
- Contributor. “El Paréntesis” Weekly, Madrid, Spain
nd
- Founder and illustrator. "Madrid Cómico" newspaper, Madrid, Spain
- Illustrator. Books from writers Victor Hugo and Chateaubriand
Exhibitions
2012
- Interconexiones: Lecturas Curatoriales de la Colección del MAPR, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2007
- Contexto puertorriqueño: del rococó colonial al arte global, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Collections
- Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Bibliography
Books
Un cuadrito de Cuchí, El Buscapié, San Juan, Puerto Rico, mayo 1 de 1892, p. 5.