96 - Portuguese School, ca. 1840.

Portuguese School, ca. 1840. “Tower of Bethlehem.” Oil on tinplate. Measurements: 18.5 x 22 cm; 30 x 33.5 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. View of the Belém Tower, an iconic Lisbon landmark built in the early 16th century during the reign of Manuel I. The structure overlooks a bustling riverside scene filled with boats, fishermen, and small figures, evoking Lisbon’s close historical connection to the Tagus River and the sea. The movement of the water and the vast, luminous sky lend the painting dynamism and a distinct romantic sensibility, while the work also holds documentary value by depicting the Belém area around the mid-19th century.