VERGÓS I, Francesc

Techniques

Painting

Profile and historiographical debate

He was a painter from Barcelona who was son of a tailor called Francesc and his wife Guillemona and he was also brother of Jaume Vergós I. Being married with Bartomeua, Francesc Vergós I never followed the family business but, instead, he changed clothing for painting, and became the first member of a recognized lineage of painters of Barcelona.

Unfortunately, his work remains still unknown and the single evidence of his activity as a painter depends on two documents. The first document, dated in 1407, mentions his workshop, and the second one, an agreement dated October 13^th 1417, where Francesc Vergós I agrees to become Francesc Llunell’s (son of the painter of Barcelona Bartomeu Llunell) master and that was published by J. Madurell (1952).

Documentary Sources

• June 8^th,1407– Reading of Guillemona’s testament. She was married with Francesc Vergós, who was a tailor from Barcelona, and she was mother of the painters Francesc Vergós and Jaume Vergós. Arxiu Històric de Protocols de Barcelona, Protocols notarials de Barcelona, notary Pere Granyana, llig. 5, lib. 17
• January 11^th, 1410– Assignment of powers by Francesc Vergós, tailor of Barcelona, to his son Francesc Vergós, painter of the same city. Arxiu Històric de Protocols de Barcelona, Protocols notarials de Barcelona, notary Jaume Just, llig. 1, man. years 1409-1412
• October 13^th,1417– Contract for learning the painter’s trade signed between Bartomeu Llunell, Francesc Llunell’s father, and Francesc Vergós. Arxiu Històric de Protocols de Barcelona, Protocols notarials de Barcelona, notary Bernat Pi, llig. 7

Text: Gemma Malé