Ramon Tusquets Y Maignon (1837-1904), “on The Terrace”, 1870

Ramon Tusquets y Maignon (1837-1904), “On the Terrace”, 1870

Oil on canvas, 46 x 116 cm.
Signed "R. Tusquets/Rome 1870" lower right

The painting depicts a beautiful Orientalist scene: a group of women, likely members of a harem, enjoying a convivial moment. The scene takes place on an elevated terrace: in the background, the dome of a mosque and the roofs of other buildings can be seen. The ensemble of women is depicted while two of them are performing a musical performance for the others: they are holding two string instruments, and, presumably, the woman on the right is singing; some spectators listen attentively, while others are gazing at the painter.

Tusquets is careful to create a meticulous reconstruction of the environment by inserting various objects that evoke an exotic atmosphere: the colorful carpets, the golden incense burner, and the small carved wooden table transport us to a Middle Eastern city bathed in twilight.

BIOGRAPHY

Ramon Tusquets y Maignon was born in Barcelona in 1837. The son of a merchant, he was introduced to the business world by his father; upon his father's death, however, he abandoned his trade and devoted himself to his passion for painting. He began studying with the Spanish artist Ramon Moliné and then moved to Rome, where he studied at the Chigi Academy and became acquainted with the circle of Catalan painters there. He also met and frequented Mariano Fortuny, who introduced him to Orientalist themes.

He exhibited in Italy and Spain and participated in international exhibitions, such as the international exhibition in Vienna in 1876 and the one in Paris in 1878.

He was also active for many years in Naples, but the artist's last city was Rome, where he died in 1904.

He painted orientalist and historical subjects, genre scenes and landscapes taken from the Roman and Neapolitan countryside.