Think that you may own a painting by Alfredo Ramos Martinez? We authenticate, appraise, research and issue certificates of authenticity (COA) and provide consultations for all paintings by Alfredo Ramos Martinez.

Alfredo Ramos Martinez is one of the greatest Mexican painters of the 20th century. Martinez began his career as an artist at a very young age, and was trained at the Academia Nacionale de Bellas Artes in Mexico City. Martinez was left jaded by his experience at the academy, and felt as though he was taught that individuality was not important in art.

Despite the restrictions of the academy, Martinez went out and began painting scenes of city life in his own way. He eventually caught the eye of Phoebe Hearst who became his benefactor and funded his studies abroad. In 1897, Martinez arrived in Paris and continued his style of street painting and capturing the world around.

While in Europe, Martinez began to adopt the style of the post-Impressionists. His time in Europe inspired him in more ways than one; while staying in Paris Martinez began to paint on newsprint. One day when he ran out of paper, it is said that Martinez asked his landlord if he had any, and was given a stack of newspapers. Though he accepted them reluctantly, this was the beginning of Martinez’s method of painting on newsprint.

In 1910, Martinez returned to Mexico and was made the director of the academy in 1913. However, eventually Martinez realized that he supported the needs of the students over the academy, and formed his own school instead, the Escuelas de Pintura al Aire Libre (The Open Air Schools of Painting). This school was started by Martinez with ten students, one of which was a young David Alfaro Sisqueros who would become one of Mexico’s most famous muralists.

In 1928, Martinez married and a year later, his daughter was born. Sadly, she was born with a crippling bone disease which led the family to move to the United States for medical treatment. This move also led Martinez to creating more modern pieces in the 1930’s in California.

Martinez received many commissions to paint murals in Mexico and in The United States, including many for celebrities like Edith Head. Despite the fact that he is considered by many to be the father of Mexican Modern Art, Martinez and his contributions to Mexican art have unfortunately been overlooked in the past. However, this attitude is changing, and an interest in his art has begun to rise. Today many of his pieces are fetching upwards of $4 million dollars at auction.

Still wondering about a Mexican painting in your family collection? Contact us…it could be by Alfredo Ramos Martinez.