A Woman Ahead of Her Time
Pepeta Moreu, born in Mataró on June 16, 1857, was a trailblazing advocate for women’s rights and education during a period when such ambitions were rare for women. A strong, intelligent, and fiercely independent woman, she worked as a teacher and was actively involved in cultural and social reform in Barcelona. Her progressive mindset and educational ideals made her a standout figure in late 19th-century Catalonia.
Growing up in a deeply religious household, her family still maintained connections with prominent republican and secular figures, creating an intellectually vibrant environment. The Moreu-Fornells home was an intersection of piety and progressivism—an influence that would shape Pepeta’s perspective and attract equally passionate thinkers like Antoni Gaudí.
The Encounter That Changed Gaudí’s Life
In the early 1880s, the young and ambitious Antoni Gaudí met Pepeta Moreu through mutual connections in Barcelona’s cultural circles. Introduced by Salvador Pagès, the republican director of the Obrera Mataronense cooperative, Gaudí visited the Moreu-Fornells household often while working on the cooperative’s architectural plans. Pepeta and her sisters embroidered Gaudí’s symbolic estandarte for the cooperative—a masterpiece symbolized by bees weaving among cotton leaves.
The connection between Gaudí and Pepeta grew during these visits, filled with music, conversations, and shared ideals. In her 1926 interview with architect Lluís Bonet, Pepeta offered a vivid portrait of those Sundays: <em>“At that time, Gaudí dressed elegantly but without affectation; his blond beard and hair gave him a rather attractive gentlemanly appearance.”</em> She went on to recall how Gaudí was an excellent conversationalist, engaging in lively discussions that lasted the entire day, often over shared meals.
“We played the piano and sang,”</em> she said of herself and her sisters, <em>“and he [Gaudí] attended, delighted by all the family’s joyful expressions. No one from outside the household ever joined these gatherings.”
Gaudí was reportedly smitten, drawn not just by Pepeta’s beauty but also her modern worldview and intellectual presence. These intimate Sunday visits offered him a window into a world filled with warmth, creativity, and progressive thought—qualities he rarely found in other circles.
Unfulfilled Love and Lasting Influence
Despite Gaudí’s affection, Pepeta did not return his romantic feelings. She was already in a relationship with Josep Caballol, whom she would later marry in 1889. When she revealed her engagement ring to Gaudí during one of his Sunday visits, his heartbreak was so profound that he never returned to the house again.
Gaudí's deep disappointment is said to have left a lasting mark. As Pepeta Moreu herself recounted to architect Lluís Bonet in 1926, Gaudí’s romantic pursuit ended that day, and with it, perhaps, his willingness to love again. He remained a bachelor, echoing his own words:
“I have never felt a calling for marriage”
The Emotional Toll on Gaudí
The emotional aftermath of this failed romance was not fleeting. While Gaudí had a few earlier infatuations—including a young French or German woman he met in a family friend’s home—his deepest connection appeared to be with Pepeta Moreu. Her rejection was a pivotal moment in his life, one that redirected his emotional energy entirely into his architectural work.
Legacy of Pepeta Moreu
Pepeta’s influence extended far beyond her relationship with Gaudí. She was a three-time wife, a resilient woman who rebuilt her life after a failed early marriage, and an enduring symbol of female empowerment. Her progressive ideals and unyielding independence arguably inspired Gaudí to explore more avant-garde, symbolic, and emotive architectural forms.
She passed away in Sitges on December 9, 1938, near the end of the Spanish Civil War. Yet, her legacy survives not only through her advocacy for women’s education but also through the lens of Gaudí’s life—her story offering a rare glimpse into the human side of an artistic genius often seen only through the lens of stone and spire.
Preserving the Memory of Hidden Muses
The story of Pepeta Moreu is more than a forgotten romance—it is a crucial chapter in understanding Gaudí’s emotional depth, his architectural daring, and the cultural movements that influenced his time. By shedding light on Pepeta’s life, the Gaudí Foundation aims to preserve not only the legacy of the architect but also the profound impact of the individuals who shaped his world.
Through continued research, education, and storytelling, we honor women like Pepeta Moreu—muses, pioneers, and change-makers whose stories deserve a lasting place in cultural history.
.svg)
