148 - French School, late 19th century – early 20th century.

French School, late 19th century – early 20th century. "Bust of a Girl." Bronze sculpture with a marble base. Measurements: 35 x 16 x 12 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 artist has captured the model—a young girl—in a spontaneous and lively pose. The girl covers her head with a large cap or hood that almost completely hides her curly hair; however, she appears to be tousling it in a coquettish gesture, bringing both hands to the sides of her chin and tilting her face slightly to one side. Her expression is cheerful and natural; her large eyes and rounded features emphasize the model’s youth, and her lips are slightly parted in a sincere and spontaneous smile. The young woman wears a simple vest with large rectangular buttons, and the artist has paid special attention to the rendering of textures. Thus, both the vest and the hat are rendered with a rough, coarse texture, which is a hallmark of their smoothness and softness compared to her bare arms and face.