Ricard Martí Aguiló

RICARD MARTÍ AGUILÓ (Barcelona, 1857–1935).
"Seascapes," 1908–1909.
Set of four oil paintings on panel.
Several are labeled with location and date in the lower margin; one of them is inscribed
Signed “R. Martí” in the lower right corner.
Measurements: 14 × 35 cm each; 17 × 40 cm (frame).

Dated between 1908 and 1909, these four small seascapes are of particular interest due to their direct connection to Ricard Martí Aguiló’s stays on the Catalan coast and his practice of painting from life. Their small format, rapid execution, and annotations of place and date allow them to be understood as oil sketches, intended to immediately capture the changes in light, color, and atmosphere along the coastline.

The collection offers different approaches to the seascape: rocky coastlines rendered with dense brushstrokes alternate with views of calm waters, architecture, and small boats depicted using lighter, more luminous color ranges. The free and synthetic style takes on special significance here, revealing the painterly process and lending each panel the spontaneous character of a study made on the spot.

The inscription “Cadaqués 23 IX 08” is particularly significant. Martí Aguiló’s presence in Cadaqués is already documented in 1905 through a sketchbook and an oil painting titled *Riba del Poal (Cadaqués)*; there are also six known drawings of Cadaqués and Portlligat dated between 1908 and 1918, a time frame that directly coincides with these small panels.

Ricard Martí Aguiló, son and disciple of Ramon Martí Alsina, developed a realist body of work focused on landscapes, seascapes, portraits, and still lifes. In 1891, he participated in the General Exhibition of Fine Arts in Barcelona, and that same year he painted the Portrait of Narcís Monturiol, which is currently part of the Gallery of Illustrious Catalans at the Barcelona History Museum. His connection to Cadaqués also had a documentary aspect, as he practiced amateur photography there and left behind numerous sketches of the town and its surroundings.