Compostela é unha rúa longa…

Location

Country: Holy See
City: Vatican City
Place: British Embassy

Alfonso Costa’s works are part of a set of ten prints from the portfolio entitled Santiago de Compostela. The portfolio was inspired by the poems of the Galician poet and writer, Salvador García-Bodaño Zunzunegui. The title of the portfolio and the poems take as its main subject, Santiago de Compostela, the city in north Spain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its mediaeval cathedral, the reputed burial site of St James. The interior of this outstanding Romanesque cathedral is noted for its general austerity in decoration, except for the intricately carved stone decoration of its organ and choir areas. 

The compositional and figurative references in these prints by Costa suggest a strong stylistic influence from the 18th century English visionary artist, William Blake.

Alfonso Costa was born in Noia in the Galician province of La Coruña. At the age of 17 he moved to Barcelona and had his first exhibition there in 1967. He exhibited widely and produced prints, engravings and posters, many of which were used to illustrate works of literature and magazine articles. Public commissions of Costa’s work include a large-scale painting for the Institute of Frenopático in Barcelona in 1984; and a mural for the Institute Xelmírez de Compostela in 1985. A major exhibition of his work was held in 1988 in La Coruña. Examples of Costa’s work can be found in public museum collections in cities across Spain including Barcelona, Madrid, Burgos, Mallorca and Vigo.
Salvador García-Bodaño Zunzunegui, writer, poet and critic is a major figure of Galician culture. He was born in Vigo in 1935 and studied law in Santiago de la Compostela. He was one of the founders of the Galician Socialist Party and is known for his prolific works in poetry, prose, especially those that celebrate Galician and Catalan culture.

Places

Subjects

Materials & Techniques

Artist

Alfonso Costa (1943 - )
Salvador Garcia-Bodaño

Title

Compostela é unha rúa longa…

Portfolio Title

Santiago de Compostela

Edition

13/90

Date

1989

Medium

Etching and aquatint

Dimensions

height: 37.00 cm, width: 28.00 cm

Acquisition

Presented by the artist, October 1995

Inscription

below image: 13/90 / Alfonso Costa

GAC number

16924