José Arpa

Who was José Arpa?

José Arpa y Perea, 1858–1952, was an artist of Spanish birth who worked in Spain, Mexico, and Texas. Born in Carmona, Spain, he studied under Eduardo Cano de la Peña at the Museum of Fine Arts of Seville, where he won the Rome Prize three times, allowing him to study in Rome. During his years in San Antonio, Texas he influenced many painters, most notably Xavier Gonzalez, Octavio Medellín, and Porfirio Salinas. He painted in a realistic style, and was especially noted for his use of brilliant colors and his expertise in capturing the visual effects of sunlight. His work has been widely exhibited; ten of his paintings are in the collection of the San Antonio Museum of Art.