Marian Vayreda i Vila
| Marian Vayreda i Vila | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Marian Vayreda i Vila 1853 Olot |
| Died | 1903 Olot |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Occupation | painter, writer |
| Known for | his novels |
| Political party | Carlism, Catalanism |
Marian Vayreda i Vila (1853-1903) was a Carlist soldier and activist, a painter and a Catalan writer. He is recognized as key representative of Catalan cultural renaissance of the late 19th century. He is particularly acknowledged for his 1904 novel, , declared one of the best Catalan literary works of all time. Politically Vayreda is considered a typical case of an identity located in-between Carlism and emerging Spain's peripheral nationalisms.
Marian Francesc Bartomeu Vayreda i Vila was descendant to noble Catalan families. His paternal ancestors were related to the Alt Garrotxa town of Olot. During the legitimist siege in course of the First Carlist War the family house was set ablaze, which forced Marian’s grandfather Francesc to move to Girona. It is there that his son and Marian’s father, Francesc Vayreda i Busquets (1814-1870), fell in love with Maria Rosa Vila i Galí (1817-?). She was descendant to a far more prestigious local Vila Cavaller family, holding a number of estates and owning , an iconic Catalan mansion.
The couple married in 1840 and in 1844 they settled in the reconstructed family house in Olot. Francesc’s maternal uncle was municipal military commander and Francesc possibly took part in activities against the local . He inherited estates co-possessed with his relatives and is referred to as "propietario rentista". As the two families maintained good relations, Francesc temporarily administered Porqueres holdings of his junior Vila nephews and the Vila family periodically managed the Vayreda estates. Francesc and Maria Rosa had 6 children, three of them becoming recognized figures. Apart from Marian, Joaquím (1843-1894) made his name as a painter and Estanislau (1848-1901) as a botanic.
As a child Marían spent much of his time at the Cavaller de Vidrà estate, later frequenting the Olot Padres Escolapios college; following bachillerato he intended to study law in Barcelona. The advent of Glorious Revolution of 1868 changed these plans and Marían settled for studying art in l'Escola de Dibuix d'Olot. Around 1870 he joined the Carlist conspiracy and at the outbreak of the Third Carlist War he entered the legitimist troops. His exact war record is not clear. Most sources agree he remained on the Catalan Front; some claim he formed part of General Staff of , not unlikely as his headquarters was in Cavaller de Vidrà. Other sources note that Vayreda took part in combat, especially in the battles of d’Argelaguer and Prats de Lluçanés, and was wounded in action. Shortly before defeat and disguised as a peasant he made it to France.
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