Artur Ramon Art hosts exhibition highlighting century of family heritage

Artur Ramon and his family members, including his son Artur and sister Mònica, organized an exhibition to celebrate 100 years of their art dealership and antiquarian business.

The display features 30 artworks spanning eight centuries, ranging from 12th-century sculptures by the Mestre de Cabestany to modern ceramics by Miquel Barceló. The collection reflects the family's history of identifying lost or misattributed works and their role in the Catalan art market.

Artur Ramon identified a painting by Francisco de Goya as a masterpiece that had previously been attributed to the artist's master and brother-in-law, Francisco Bayeu. Ramon noticed specific technical details in the hands and drapery that suggested a higher level of skill than Bayeu typically displayed. The museum plans to include this Goya in a major exhibition at the Museu del Prado in 2028. The family business began in 1926 and moved from Reus to Sitges in 1925.

After a period of decline following the Spanish Civil War, the business reopened in Barcelona in 1941. Ramon notes that the business model shifted over time as the local middle class disappeared and globalization forced the gallery to focus on the international market. He describes the current cultural climate as a decline in humanistic knowledge, arguing that modern society prioritizes experience over the study of history and objects.