243 - Pair of angels; Spain, 18th century.

Pair of angels; Spain, 18th century. Carved, gilded, and polychrome wood. Measurements: 38 x 28 x 18 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 wooden angel figures, with traces of gilding and polychrome paint, depicted in dynamic poses as if in flight. Both angels have childlike bodies with anatomically accurate, naturalistic features, expressive faces, and curly hair; with their arms raised and wings spread, they create a strong sense of movement and lightness. The composition reflects the Spanish Baroque sculptural tradition’s preference for celestial figures with a dynamic and theatrical character, intended to visually enrich religious ensembles. The arrangement of the bodies, the outstretched limbs, and the movement of the drapery on one of the figures accentuate the dynamism of the pair and evoke the supernatural dimension of sacred scenes.