81 - RAMÓN MARTÍ ALSINA (Barcelona, 1826–1894).

RAMÓN MARTÍ ALSINA (Barcelona, 1826–1894). “Landscapes.” Pair of oil paintings on panel. One of them is signed with initials. Measurements: 13.5 x 21.5 cm; 15 x 23 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. Now considered the most important figure in Spanish Realism, Martí Alsina was part of the European avant-garde of his time. He revolutionized the Spanish art scene of the 19th century, pioneered plein air painting, founded the modern Catalan school, and served as a mentor to an entire generation, with notable disciples such as Vayreda, Urgell, and Torrescassana. He began his studies in philosophy and literature, alternating them with evening classes at the School of Fine Arts in Barcelona until 1848. Beginning in 1850, his artistic career took hold, and in 1852 he began his teaching career. In 1853, he traveled to Paris, where he visited the Louvre and became familiar with the work of Horace Vernet, Eugène Delacroix, and French Romanticism. Later, he would discover the work of Gustave Courbet, the leading exponent of Realism. In 1859, he was appointed a corresponding member of the Sant Jordi Academy of Fine Arts in Barcelona. His first major exhibition was the 1851 General Exhibition of Fine Arts in Barcelona. From that point on, he exhibited regularly in Barcelona, Madrid, and Paris, and was invited to the 1889 World’s Fair in Paris. Among his awards, the medals he won at the National Exhibitions in Madrid stand out: third place in 1858 for the work “The Last Day of Numantia” and second place in 1860 for his landscape. In his later years, he lived in seclusion, focusing his efforts on the search for new forms of expression, with a loose brushstroke reminiscent of Impressionism. Works by Martí Alsina are preserved at the Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, the National Art Museum of Catalonia, the MACBA, the Montserrat Abbey Museum, and the Empordà Museum in Figueras.