137 - 20th-century French school.

20th-century French school. “Coastal Village.” Oil on canvas. Signed “Anselme” in the lower right corner. Measurements: 35 x 65 cm; 45 x 74 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 half-timbered facades in this composition, the sloping roofs, and the character of the harborfront evoke the towns of the northern French coast, particularly Normandy—a region whose seafaring tradition and picturesque architecture were recurring motifs in landscape painting. Signed “Anselme,” the work combines descriptive detail with a charming and evocative vision of coastal life.