...one of only a very few nocturnes executed by the artist in Mallorca. Cala Murta is an inlet located on the south side of the rocky Formentor peninsula of the island. Covered in dwarf pines and fan palms and known for the beauty of its waters, this secluded area was a recurring source of inspiration for the artist.... ...Mallorca brought about a fundamental change in his technique. Color remained his primary concern, however he moved away from the use of glazes, instead applying paint thickly on to the canvas directly from the tube, and developing in the process an array of striking color combinations. The unusually selective palette, dominated by the cold, intense blue of the jagged cliffs and sea, juxtaposed with the delicate yellows and pinks of the full... (http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2009/19th-century-european-paintings-including-german-austrian-central-european-paintings-the-orientalist-sale-spanish-painting-and-the-scandinavian-sale-l09661/lot.84.html)