Hermenegildo Anglada-Camarasa

Sale: Sotheby's, Madrid, 22 April 1982, lot 221
Purchased by the family of the present owner at the above sale; thence by descent

Original canvas. There are no signs of retouching visible under ultraviolet light. Apart from some minor spots of scattered hairline craquelure, notably to the right extreme of the canvas, this work is in very good condition with strong colours and good impasto. Held in an ornate, gold-painted moulded plaster and wood frame.
"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."

Painted circa 1940-47, the present work is one of a small number of richly worked still-lifes of flowers that Anglada-Camarasa painted in exile in Pougues-Les-Eaux in the south of France, following the Spanish Civil War.

The vibrant, multi-hued blooms radiate exuberantly from a pristine vase. Emphasis is placed on the decorative patterns created by the flattened, outstretched and schematised flowers and the contrast between light and dark. An admirer of pyrotechnic displays throughout his life, Anglada-Camarasa painted rhythmic, dynamically-extending patterns and bright colours that mimic the configurations made by the coloured flames and sparks of fireworks.

Born in Barcelona, Anglada studied there at the Llotja School under Modest Urgell, before moving to Paris in 1894. His time in Paris and exposure to the works of artists such as Toulouse-Lautrec and Degas informed his often nocturnal portrayals of Parisian life. Seeking distance from the avant-garde circles of Paris, Anglada settled in Mallorca in 1914, remaining there until 1937, when he moved to Montserrat in Catalonia (lot 307), before crossing the border into France two years later to flee the ravages of the Civil War.