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Storage Room insight: «Alms» by Romà Ribera
01 / 10 / 2025

This month, you can see the oil on canvas Alms (c. 1920) by Romà Ribera in the Storage Room Insight. Ribera began his training as an artist at the Llotja School in Barcelona and later studied at the academy of Pere Borrell del Caso, his teacher.


Ribera travelled to Rome in 1877 and later to London to complete his training as a painter, exhibiting his work on several occasions in both cities. His work achieved great success at the 1878 Universal Exhibition in Paris and was promoted internationally by the art dealer Adolphe Goupil. His paintings are characterised by their depictions of social events and scenes from the lives of upper-class families, reflecting their customs, standard of living, and the luxury items found in their homes.


He later returned to Barcelona and exhibited his work at the Sala Parés, the Watercolourists' Centre, the 1888 Universal Exhibition, and the 1894 Fine Arts Exhibition. He continued to portray the life and social events of the Catalan bourgeoisie in increasing detail, remaining true to his characteristic realism.


Even so, Alms departs from his usual subject matter, as it portrays the lives of the lower social classes.