TELEPHONE:
ADDRESS:
Ripoll, 35 local D – 08110 Montcada i Reixac
ACTIVITY
Grau Montserrat is a workshop specialised in the creation, conservation and restoration of polychrome artistic glass. It was founded by Xavier Grau Montserrat in 2000.
They create and also restore and conserve stained glass. For new glass, they draw up bespoke designs for each project, suiting… the various techniques, materials and styles to the architectural setting. In restoration and conservation, they always start with a prior appraisal of the state of the glass, helping to determine which methods of intervention may be suitable, based on the chief ethical criteria of Corpus Vitrearum Medii Aevi:
– Greatest possible conservation of the original work
– Reversibility of the intervention
– Integration and differentiation of new elements
They decorate glass using techniques such as acid-etching, glass-painting with grisailles, enamels or silver stains, or thermoforming. They have also made glass sculptures.
TRAINING
Xavier Grau was trained at Fundació Centre del Vidre in Barcelona, where he took courses in stained-glass creation and surface treatments, stained-glass conservation and restoration, glass carving and engraving, and cold-working techniques.
He specialised further in the workshop of the prestigious French glassworker and stainer Jean-Dominique… Fleury, known for his partnerships with international artists such as Pierre Soulages (stained glass for the Romanesque Abbey of Conques) or Miquel Barceló (glasswork for the Cathedral of Palma de Mallorca).
He regularly attends the seminars, congresses and conferences organised by Corpus Vitrearum and other bodies associated with the trade.
In 2018 the Catalan Government awarded Xavier Grau a “Mestre Artesà Vitraller” master artisan’s certificate in recognition of the excellence of his craft and career.
TEACHING
In his workshop he has trained students on work experience from Fundació Centre del Vidre in Barcelona, Escola Massana in Barcelona and Centre européen de recherches et de formation aux arts verriers (Cerfav) in France. He has given courses at the Taller d’Art Manolo Hugué… art school in Caldes de Montbui and at the Cultural Centre of Canovelles.
SELECTED WORK
Restoration and conservation work:
– Church of Sant Feliu in Girona: rose window in the chapel of Sant Narcís
– Barcelona Bishop’s Palace: stained glass in the palace chapel, the press room, the library and other areas
– Barcelona Conciliar Seminary: stained glass in the lantern… tower and elsewhere
– Church of Sant Ramón de Penyafort in Barcelona: stained glass in the nave
– Catalan Government Palace: traditional geometric glasswork
– Casa Parrella in Torelló (municipal heritage building): polychrome heraldic windows
– Casa Alegre de Sagrera Museum (for Terrassa city council): stained glass in various rooms and a skylight
– Ràdio Andorra building: Andorran coat of arms in stained glass, commissioned by the Andorran Cultural Heritage Department’s Conservation and Restoration Section
– Various Art Nouveau houses in Barcelona: restoration of stained glass and galleries with acid etching
Own-design glasswork
– Barcelona Bishop’s Palace: traditional came windows and panels etched with the cardinal’s coat of arms
– Barcelona Conciliar Seminary: traditional polychrome glass for the 14 windows of the great hall
– New Church of Sant Francesc d’Assís in Badalona: contemporary stained glass for the rose windows and side chapels, made with acid-etched and fire-painted double-flash blown glass
– New Church of Mare de Déu del Carme: rose window featuring Our Lady of Carmel, fire-painted and acid-etched on clear glass
– Church of María del Remei, Les Corts, Barcelona: traditional polychrome stained glass with biblical landscapes, made with fire-painted coloured blown glass
– Stately house on the Costa Brava (Girona province): several traditional stained windows and a skylight over the main stairs, in Neoclassical style
Bespoke glasswork
– Stained-glass design by the acclaimed Danish painter Arne Haugen Sorensen for the Church of Sankt Johannes, Aarhus, Denmark
– Stained-glass design by the artist J. Ricart Garriga for the main facade of the Church of Sant Cosme i Sant Damià in El Prat de Llobregat
