17 - BALDOMERO GALOFRE JIMÉNEZ (Reus, Tarragona, 1846 – Barcelona, 1902).

BALDOMERO GALOFRE JIMÉNEZ (Reus, Tarragona, 1846 – Barcelona, 1902). “Seascape.” Oil on canvas. Signed in the lower right corner. Measurements: 80 x 150.5 cm; 100 x 170 cm (frame). The light and the stillness of the sea take center stage in this seascape by Baldomero Galofre, in which three lateen-sailed boats glide across barely rippled waters. The wide horizontal format allows for an expansive coastal panorama, structured by the succession of the boats and the mountainous silhouette that fades into the distance. The large sails introduce a rhythm of diagonals that balances the horizontality of the landscape, while the small figures of the crew members add a subtle narrative touch linked to seafaring life. Baldomero Galofre began his training at the Escuela de La Lonja in Barcelona, where he studied under Martí Alsina, and later completed his studies in Madrid. He first gained recognition in 1866 at the Barcelona Fine Arts Exhibition, where he would participate again in 1870, and in 1868 he submitted landscapes and studies to the Aragonese Exhibition in Zaragoza. In 1874, he received a scholarship to further his studies in Rome, where he would reside for ten years. There, he attended the Chigi Academy and the International Art Circle, and met Mariano Fortuny during the last months of his life, adopting the stylistic approach of his compatriot. Upon his return to Barcelona in 1884, he held a solo exhibition that was very well received; Narciso Oller praised his great naturalism and held him up as an example in contrast to history painting. Four years later, at another solo exhibition—this time in Madrid—one of his works was acquired by the Queen Regent. In 1903, in a special gallery at the Barcelona Museum, Galofre presented a major exhibition of his work. He developed a luminous and detailed style, depicting landscapes and scenes of everyday life within Fortuny’s artistic orbit. He was also an extraordinary draftsman. His work is currently represented in the MACBA and the Reus Museum of Art and History, among other public and private collections.