111 - Catalan School, circa 1900.

Catalan School, circa 1900. “Girl.” Marble sculpture with an alabaster base. Signed “F. G. Mas.” Measurements: 34 x 31 x 16 cm. 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 depiction of childhood was one of the most cherished themes among Catalan sculptors of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, who found in children’s spontaneity and innocence a particularly evocative source of inspiration. This marble sculpture is part of that tradition, combining naturalistic observation with an idealized vision of childhood, rendered through soft modeling and a careful rendering of the facial features. The piece reflects the influence of nineteenth-century naturalism, a movement that—inspired in part by the literary works of Émile Zola—sought to represent reality with authenticity and sensitivity. In the realm of Catalan sculpture, artists such as Joan Clarà stood out for their depictions of children, characterized by extraordinary freshness, grace, and delicacy. The work in question is linked to this artistic sensibility, while the nobility of the marble and its combination with the alabaster base accentuate its formal refinement and decorative appeal.