Elegant Realism By Martin Rico

Martín Rico y Ortega (12 November 1833 – 13 April 1908) was a remarkable Spanish painter who had international success mostly for his landscapes and cityscapes.

His paintings seem to have this peaceful elegance to them. This is probably due to the relatively high key which he painted in (most of the colors are on the lighter side) with some sharp, dark accents strategically scattered throughout the paintings.

You should take note of how well-composed the paintings are. It would not be easy painting such intricate scenes whilst retaining a sense of unity and harmony. He seems to have done so by ensuring there is enough variance throughout the paintings so that they do not appear stagnant and also by balancing the "busy" areas against much softer areas of subtle tonal changes.

Below is a close-up of one of his paintings which reveals his intricate brushwork and use of color. Also notice how nothing seems to be over-blended. There is a distinct feel to all his brush markings and colors.

Christie's - Details of painting sales and some high-resolution painting photos.

Museo Del Prado - Some more details on Martin Rico and high-resolution painting photos.