This late 20th-century oil painting by Spanish artist Manuel Ruiz Ortega (b. 1951) depicts a still life with jugs and a cup.
Very rarely do we list the works of contemporary artists but this is one of those occasions whereby a painting carries a sense of such timelessness that it seems to fit alongside those of previous centuries.
Based in Barcelona, Ortega has a talent for connecting with a scene or view in a way that draws out more than its basic form. Spanish critics have lauded his approach of filtering nature through his own temporary state of feeling. So, in essence, his work represents nature interpreted by a fleeting emotion before being committed to canvas.
Perhaps here, within this unassuming assortment of kitchenware, we see introversion offset by a formidable Catalan spirit.
Signed lower left and held within a 20th-century frame.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 31” x 36” / 79cm x 92cm
Year of creation: c. 1990
Condition: Artwork presents well. Craquelure but the paint is stable. Frame with some light wear.
Ortega studied at the Escuela Superior de Bellas Artes, winning the Güell prize. He currently holds the position of Corresponding Academician of the Royal Catalan Academy of Fine Arts of Sant Jordi.
Learn more about Manuel Ruiz Ortega in our directory.
We care profoundly about our role as custodians and every piece in the collection has been assessed by our conservator. When required, we undertake professional restoration carefully using reversible techniques and adopt a light touch to retain the aged charm of each work. We also restore frames rather than replace them as many are original and selected by the artists themselves.
