38 - Italian school of the second half of the 19th century.

Italian school of the second half of the 19th century. “Scene at the Harbor.” Oil on canvas. Signed (F. Morelli) in the lower right corner. Period frame. Measurements: 36 x 58.5 cm; 53 x 73 cm (frame). 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. The work depicts an urban landscape, centered on the seashore and the humble boats and skiffs found there. The composition conveys a sense of calm thanks to the few waves on the water and their lines, and the limited movement depicted is conveyed by the presence of two fishermen on the right and the small waves along the shore on the left. While it is clear that the artist sought to depict the landscape and the influence of light on the objects, the work does not strictly follow the tenets of Impressionism; rather, it shows a clear connection to certain innovations introduced by the avant-garde art movements that emerged in France toward the end of the 19th century.