Montserrat Landscape from Roca Dreta
Ca. 1852. Oil on canvas.Not on display
Landscape oil on canvas. The mountain in the background of the painting is Montserrat and the peculiar natural element at the centre of the composition is a straight rock. This is a literal translation in Spanish of the Catalan toponym Roca Dreta. This rock is a well-known geographical landmark in the vicinity of Martorell, as it resembles a megalithic element, and is therefore a classic point of reference in the region. The large rock in question, which is several metres high, stands next to this town, on the old road to Corbera, detached from the Corona hill. This hill is a landform that appears to the left of the painting, and it is stuck vertically at the foot of the road. Luis Rigalt travelled the Catalan roads so conscientiously with his sketchbook always in hand. It is not surprising, then, that the artist devoted his attention to such a singular natural element as the one at the centre of the painting.
This painting is a good example of the openly romantic character of Rigalt´s work before he reached maturity. The painter captures a natural landscape without adding fanciful elements. However, he magnifies the central motif and takes pleasure in accentuating the mysterious air of the work. In reality, Roca Dreta does not really have the forceful majesty with which the painter depicted it. The space between the rock and Montserrat, somewhat distant, also does not really produce the sense of immensity that the painter creates. Today, the space is occupied by the modern neighbourhoods of Martorell, and seen from there, even the Montserrat massif itself has none of this appearance of an immense fantasy castle as in the painting.
The artist painted the work around 1852, perhaps a little earlier, which places it at a relatively early stage in the artist´s career. It is true that Rigalt was thirty-eight years old when he painted it, but it should also be borne in mind that the most intense years of his career would be the following two decades.
Fontbona, F., "Montserrat desde la Roca Dreta" de Lluís Rigalt. Boletín del Museo del Prado, Museo del Prado, 1992, p.71-75
