The Catalan Department of Culture has acquired an important painting by Lluís Borrassà, a key figure in early 15th-century Catalan painting, at a public auction held by Art Curial in Paris. The work, titled Martirio de san Lorenzo, dates from between 1419 and 1421 and was part of the predella of the altarpiece dedicated to Saint Lawrence, Saint Hippolytus, and Saint Thomas Aquinas in the Cathedral of Barcelona.
This painting is particularly significant as it is a previously unseen piece that contributes to the reconstruction of one of the most notable collections of Catalan international Gothic painting. Prior to this acquisition, only five narrative panels from this altarpiece were known to exist, held in private collections and institutions such as the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, the Museo Nacional del Prado, and the Museo Franz Mayer in Mexico City.
The scene depicted in the painting illustrates one of the tortures endured by Saint Lawrence before his martyrdom on the gridiron. The quality of the artwork, its iconography, and various technical and stylistic elements have confirmed its connection to the documented altarpiece in the Cathedral of Barcelona. This identification is further supported by correspondence with drawings made in the 19th century by Josep Puiggarí, which document parts of the now-lost ensemble.
The addition of this work to public collections will help preserve and enrich Catalonia's artistic heritage, recovering a significant piece of Lluís Borrassà's production. The artist played a crucial role in introducing international Gothic styles to Catalonia, marked by a greater focus on naturalism, narrative, and detail.
The painting will be deposited at the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC), where it will complement the existing collection of Borrassà's works and deepen the understanding of one of medieval Barcelona's most important altarpieces.
This acquisition aligns with the Department of Culture's policy of acquiring culturally significant works through the National Fund for the Acquisition of Cultural Goods, aimed at enriching public collections and ensuring the preservation and dissemination of heritage.
