Lot Essay
Miralles G. was one of the most celebrated Catalans living in Paris during the latter half of the nineteenth century. Born in Barcelona and trained by the renowned Ramon Marti-Alsian, he moved to Paris at the age of eighteen. The artist quickly integrated into into the Paris art scene, receiving further art instruction by working at the studio of Arturo Canela where he was able to meet members of the Catalan artist colony. Within a short period of time Eduardo Zamacois introduced him to one of Paris' most influential dealers, Alphonse Goupil who began to represent the young painter. Goupil was so successful with Miralles' work that he, and later Enrique Gomez, enthsiastically promoted his work at the Paris Salons and arranged for him to show in London, Berlin, and the United States. In time, his success was so great that his works were sold before they were painted. After the Franco-Prussian war, Miralles took a studio on the fashionable Boulevard de Clichy where his popularity brought him into contact with the grandest celebrities of his day including Granados, Pagans, Rachel, Sarah Bernhardt. Many of these personages can be found in his works. He was most famous for his eloquent, spontaneous town-scapes and landscapes filled with Parisians involved in leisurely activities such as on picnics or at the races.