Romanesque volute capital; 12th–13th centuries.

Romanesque volute capital; 12th–13th centuries.
Carved stone.
Measurements: 25 x 27 x 29 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 carved stone capital with a truncated conical shape, featuring an ornamental design composed of stylized plant motifs arranged in relief across the body. The composition culminates at the corners with volutes—an element with a long tradition in classical architecture, reinterpreted by medieval workshops within the Romanesque ornamental style. The ensemble is topped by an upper abacus with a slightly molded profile, which emphasizes its architectural function and visually organizes the composition.
The piece draws on the sculptural tradition of 12th–13th-century Romanesque capitals, in which the simplification of plant forms, the tendency toward geometrization, and the integration of elements inherited from classical antiquity gave rise to a distinct ornamental repertoire. Its design reflects the architectural nature of medieval sculpture, in which decoration adapts to the volume and structure of the supporting element.