Sala Parés

Initially an art store, established in 1840 by Joan Parés, it slowly evolved into a gallery and formally became one in 1877.

[1] Founded by the original store owner's son, Joan Baptista Parés [ca], an art collector, it became the primary artistic showcase for Barcelona during the "Febre d'Or [ca]" (Gold Rush), a period of rapid economic growth for the Catalan bourgeoisie.

The artists who got their start there at that time include Modest Urgell, Romà Ribera, Josep and Francesc Masriera and Simó Gómez.

A decade later, it was home for the Post-Modernists; notably Isidre Nonell, Joaquim Mir and Marià Pidelaserra [ca].

After World War II, although the gallery maintained its connections to the avant-garde, it also began to focus more on Postimpressionism and other relatively conservative styles.