Ramon Laporta Astort

RAMÓN LAPORTA ASTORT (Barcelona, 1888 - 1936).
"Childhood Portrait of Maria Candelaria Parés Viñals", ca. 1930-1935.
Oil on canvas.
Signed in the lower left corner.
Measurements: 92 × 73 cm; 106 × 87 cm (frame).

Painting of great delicacy, focused on the serene and elegant capture of the model. Its contained attitude and a direct look that gives the portrait a remarkable psychological presence. The bluish background, treated with loose and vaporous brushstrokes, envelops the figure in a soft and luminous atmosphere. The work stands out for the refinement with which the artist resolves the qualities of the dress: the ruffles, transparencies and white embroidery are worked with a light, almost pearly brushstroke, which contrasts with the warm flesh of the face and hands.

Ramón Laporta Astort was trained at the La Lonja School in Barcelona and furthered his studies in Brussels and Paris. He developed a realistic style of painting, mainly dedicated to portraiture and still life. He exhibited in Barcelona, among other places in the Sala Parés, and participated in official competitions such as the Barcelona Fine Arts Exhibition of 1911 and the National Fine Arts Exhibition of 1930, where he won the third medal. His work is represented in the Prado Museum, with works on deposit in the Museum of Huelva.