Maurici Valls I Quer (1904-1992) - Monumental View Of Palma De Mallorca

Oil on canvas. Original canvas. Label of the prestigious Barcelona art gallery "La Pinacoteca," active in the mid-20th century. A sublime view of Palma de Mallorca in the mid-20th century, where the imposing mass of the Gothic cathedral dominates the central register of the painting, amidst enchanting greens and blues evoking the gentleness of a Balearic autumn. Under the mild November sky, the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range is shrouded in gray on the left, while Pico de Randa offers a breathtaking view of the eastern part of the island, beyond Llucmajor. Mauricio Valls i Quer (Barcelona, 1904 – Olot, 1992) was a Catalan painter, a specialist in nativity scenes, who distinguished himself as a worthy heir to the landscape tradition of the Olot School. Despite his parents' attempts to steer him towards commerce, Valls Quer chose painting and trained at the Llotja School in Barcelona, where he studied under Fèlix Mestres. His style remained true to the post-Impressionist landscape tradition, characterized by luminous tones and a serene atmosphere. He held his first solo exhibition at the Sala Parés in Barcelona in 1924 and gained recognition by winning the Masriera Silver Medal in 1930 for his painting "Olot." Besides his oil paintings, which he usually signed Vallsquer, he was also a prominent figure in the art of nativity scenes (dioramas and models) and left a legacy of works centered on the Catalan landscape, particularly that of the Garrotxa region.