He started out as a printing machine operator in various companies in Barcelona and became an active figure in the world of printing and historical research on the art of bookmaking.

A cultured, active man fond of drawing and literature, he was among those who waged a language campaign in L'Avenç in 1890, writing several articles and speaking at meetings organised by the Ramblers' Centre of Catalonia. He was also involved in the setting up of the Catalan Institute of Bookmaking Arts and in the last stage of his life he concentrated on running the Arús Library (Passeig de Sant Joan, 26).

He stood out for renovating typographical techniques, for his Gothic-like designs, which were much used in this period for diplomas, invitations, etc, and for creating typefaces known as Gòtic Incunable Canibell based on original Gothic models.