RAMÓN BAYEU (1744 / 1793) "El muchacho de la esportilla"... Lot n° 548

El muchacho de la esportilla and "Las majas y el majo" c.1786 This pair of panels are probably sketches or preparatory studies for cartoons for the Royal Tapestry Factory. Both depict popular themes from the Madrid tradition and are executed in a pleasantly colourful Rococo aesthetic. However, the noble attitude of the Boy with the Esportilla, who depicts a street vendor, seems to have a second interpretation and to reflect the desire of the Enlightenment reformers to revitalise and dignify manual labour. In connection with these paintings, mention should be made of the definitive cartoon of the Boy with the Slipper in the Museo Nacional del Prado collection (P002523). Mention should also be made of two oil paintings on canvas with the same themes which appeared on the international art market in 1998 (Christie's London, Old Master Pictures, auction of 24 April 1998, lot 118). There are slight variations between this pair and the one shown here, but they share practically identical measurements. Thanks to the documentation in the Moreno Archive we have been able to locate the possible provenance of these works, as both were photographed in the Madrid collection of Santiago Pierrard (Archivo Moreno Sig. 02506_C). . Oil on board.13 x 21 cm. each.