Isabel Güell i López

Composer and pianist (Barcelona, 23rd November 1872–8th May 1956)

The Palau Güell and Park Güell are named after her father, Eusebi Güell Bacigalupi, the first Count Güell and Gaudí’s patron. However, Isabel Güell deserves to go down in history on her own merits, despite the fact that, over the centuries, women haven’t enjoyed a high profile in the field of the arts.

Isabel had a great love of music from a very young age and played the piano and organ. She composed religious works and was a member of the choir of the Institut de Cultura de la Dona, which was run by Francesca Bonnemaison. She studied music in Paris and set Jacint Verdaguer’s poems to music. She also wrote a Te Deum (1918) and Stabat Mater (1917).

She lived at the Palau Güell with her parents and siblings from her teenage years until she married Carles Sentmenat i Sentmenat, the Marquis of Castelldosrius, in 1901. The couple’s home, on Carrer Junta de Comerç, was decorated by Gaudí. It is said that the architect couldn’t find room for the young woman’s grand piano and suggested she switch to playing the violin.

In addition to her talent as a musician, Isabel Güell was a great benefactor and philanthropist, who devoted herself to charity work.