The Procession of St. Bartolomew

"Felip Masó i de Falp was born in Barcelona in 1851, but his interest in painting took him to Paris where he joined the studio belonging to Léon Bonnat. For family reasons he stayed in Sitges several times throughout his childhood and he never lost contact with the local residents.
While he was in Sitges he produced different works. One of his most famous creations is the one shown here, which depicts the procession of St. Bartholomew, the town’s patron saint. The painting reflects the moment in which the parade, led by the giants and stick dancers who dance to the sound of the Catalan shawm, are heading for the church.
To achieve the widest view possible and employing a technique used by many artists, he situates the action in an imaginary point where he mixes local elements, such as the church, with other foreign items, creating an area where two streets merge. This view enabled the artist to place the authorities and the tabernacle with the statue of the saint in the centre.
It is curious to note that both the authorities and the figures in the procession are pictures of real people; among the members of the public there are several women with the same face. Although the identity of the girl is unknown, she is thought to somebody who was very special for the artist."