104 - Spanish School, late 19th–early 20th century.

Spanish School, late 19th–early 20th century. "Pair of female portraits." Oil on canvas and oil on canvas mounted on wood panel. They show small stains and surface imperfections consistent with their age. Measurements: 40 × 47 cm, 54 × 55.5 cm (frames). 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. A pair of female portraits linked to the turn-of-the-century realist tradition, with particular attention paid to the individual characterization of the models. In both cases, the face is the most finely defined element, while the rendering of the clothing and background is executed in a freer style. Particularly interesting are the hallmarks of the two painterly approaches: one of the figures features a more elaborate finish, with soft modeling of the skin tones, while the second retains a more immediate and sketchy quality, with visible brushstrokes and areas that are barely suggested. This difference allows us to appreciate both the study of the subjects’ features and the very process of constructing the portrait.