Francisco Miralles Valencia 1848-Barcelona 1901

Private Collection, USA

The canvas has been relined. There are a few scattered spots of retouching, notably to the legs of the girl in the pink dress seated to the left and to the upper left edge, and some strokes of infilling to areas of craquelure, notably in the bottom left corner. Apart from a faint craquelure pattern the paint surface is overall in good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Miralles first trained in Barcelona with Ramón Martí Alsina before moving to Paris in 1866 to study with Arturo Canela whose studio became the meeting place for Catalán artists in the city. Introduced to Adolphe Goupil, the agent for Boldini, Bouguereau and Gérôme, Miralles' talents as a painter soon became widely appreciated, and his work avidly collected. He became a regular exhibitor at the Paris Salons, in the Sala Parés in Barcelona and at numerous international exhibitions in London, Berlin and America.

Miralles' Fiesta Elegante is a fine example of his Paris period, during which time he was greatly sought after for his depiction of young Parisian élégants in their leisure time, at soirées, the opera, the races or at the beach.