17 - A 19th-century European school.

A 19th-century European school. “City Among the Mountains.” Oil on panel. With an illegible signature in the lower left corner. Measurements: 18.5 x 26 cm. Provenance: Estate of Ramon Martí Alsina and Ricard Martí Aguiló. Artistic and heritage collection originating in the legacy of Catalan painters Ramon Martí Alsina (1826–1894), a seminal figure of 19th-century Catalan Realism, and his son Ricard Martí Aguiló (1857–1935). Passed down and enriched across successive generations, the collection brings together works from the original holdings of both artists alongside acquisitions made by their descendants. Dedicated to preserving and recovering the family legacy, the descendants actively reacquired works by the painters as they entered the market, progressively expanding the collection to encompass paintings, sculptures, archaeological artifacts, and other items of artistic and historical significance. In this work, the painter depicts a Central European city nestled among mountains, viewed from a high vantage point that allows for a detailed view of all its features, as well as the perfect balance between architecture and nature. One can also discern the contrast between the two areas of the city: the aristocratic quarter in the background, with grand palaces, and the working-class neighborhood in the foreground, with houses featuring red-tiled roofs.