242 - Pair of cherubs; Spain, 18th century.

Pair of cherubs; Spain, 18th century. Carved and polychrome wood. Measurements: 20 x 28 x 13 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. A pair of carved and polychromed cherub heads, representative of the ornamental style of 18th-century Spanish Baroque sculpture. Both figures feature childlike faces framed by small, outstretched wings that emphasize their angelic nature. One of the cherubs stands out for the sweetness of his features and the serenity of his expression, while his companion has a more expressive and dynamic character, accentuated by the striking reddish polychromy of his wings. This type of angelic motif was widely used in the ornamentation of altarpieces and religious ensembles, where the cherubs helped enrich the composition and evoke the celestial dimension of the sacred scene. They were likely conceived as integral elements of an architectural structure.