90 - 19th-century Spanish school.

19th-century Spanish school. “Boy.” Oil on panel. Measurements: 20.5 x 13 cm; 24 x 17 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. This panel depicts a portrait of great warmth—intimate and approachable, devoid of any contrived composition—suggesting that we are likely looking at a snapshot of the painter’s daily life, featuring a child who could very well be his son.