175 - 19th-Century Miniatures.

19th-Century Miniatures. “Portraits.” Set of four gouaches on paper. One of them is signed in the upper right corner. Measurements: 6.5 x 5.5 cm (the smallest); 6.5 x 5.5 cm; 14 x 13 cm (the largest). 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. Since the Renaissance, miniature portraits have been works intended for private contemplation. Treated as treasures, in the 17th century they became items of personal adornment or gifts, as they were mounted as jewelry. They were created using a wide variety of techniques, such as oil on copper, tin, or ivory; wash on parchment or cardstock; and, from the 18th century onward, watercolor on ivory. This delicate art form began to fade in the second half of the 19th century, in parallel with the development of photography. The most common subjects in this type of artwork during the 19th century were religious and historicist depictions, frequently set in the preceding century.