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

Pair of cherubs; Spain, 18th century. Carved and polychrome wood. They show signs of wear. Measurements: 14 x 27 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. Sculptural fragments from an altarpiece or intended as ornamental wall appliqués, featuring the heads of cherubs or angelettes with childlike features and serene expressions. Notable are the three-dimensional rendering of the faces and the rich decorative carving, characteristic of Baroque religious ornamentation. They are damaged.