Cesar Mercader (XX) - Riera de horts





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Riera de horts, oil on canvas by Cesar Mercader (XX) from the 1970s–1980s, Spain, sold with frame.
Description from the seller
Pictura Subastas presents this magnificent artwork belonging to Cesar Mercader, depicting a rural corner where traditional architecture and nature merge in an atmosphere of calm and harmony beside a small watercourse. The painting stands out for its excellent technique and the high pictorial quality it conveys.
· Frame dimensions: 72x94x6 cm.
· Artwork dimensions: 60x81 cm.
· Oil on canvas hand-signed by the artist in the lower right corner, C. Mercader.
· The piece is in good conserved condition.
· The work is sold with a precious frame (included in the auction as a gift).
The work comes from an exclusive private collection in Girona.
Important note: the photographs included are an integral part of the lot description.
The painting will be professionally packed by an IVEX expert (https://www.instagram.com/ivex.online/), using high-quality materials to guarantee its protection. The shipping price covers both the cost of professional packaging and the transport itself.
Shipping will be carried out by Correos, GLS or NACEX with tracking. International shipping available.
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This painting transports us to a private and serene corner of a rural setting, where architecture and nature coexist in a silent harmony. The scene centers around a narrow watercourse that runs gently through the middle of the composition, flanked by ancient walls and lush vegetation. On the left, a building with light-colored walls and a traditional roof rises above an older base, whose stones and bricks seem to tell stories of generations past. The daylight bathes the scene in a warm clarity, enhancing textures and creating a delicate play of shadows.
The main building features walls in ochre and whitish tones, with areas where the coating allows glimpses of older materials, contributing a sense of authenticity and the passage of time. On the roof, small garments hung out to dry add a human and everyday detail that breaks the architectural stillness and suggests life beyond what is visible. The chimney’s verticality contrasts with the horizontality of the landscape, balancing the composition and guiding the gaze toward the sky, partially covered by soft clouds.
The watercourse that traverses the scene is not heavy, but it reflects light and provides visual freshness. Its banks, covered with dense vegetation, show a rich variety of greens, from the darkest to the lightest. To the right, a wall partially covered with climbing plants blends with nature, blurring the boundary between what is built and what is organic. The vegetation seems to grow freely, enveloping the structures and softening their edges.
In the background, more buildings insinuate themselves among trees and shrubs, creating depth and spatial continuity. The earthen path that runs along the water leads the eye to that distant point, inviting the viewer to imagine a tranquil stroll through the place. The light, filtered through the clouds and vegetation, creates contrasts that add dynamism without breaking the atmosphere of calm. The whole scene transmits a sense of retreat, as if time slows down in this secluded space.
Taken as a whole, the work evokes the discreet beauty of rural corners where traditional architecture integrates with nature in a spontaneous way. The scene conveys serenity, memory, and a deep connection with the surroundings, inviting slow contemplation and enjoyment of the simple things. It is a landscape that speaks of history, intimacy, and harmony between human beings and their environment.
Seller's Story
Pictura Subastas presents this magnificent artwork belonging to Cesar Mercader, depicting a rural corner where traditional architecture and nature merge in an atmosphere of calm and harmony beside a small watercourse. The painting stands out for its excellent technique and the high pictorial quality it conveys.
· Frame dimensions: 72x94x6 cm.
· Artwork dimensions: 60x81 cm.
· Oil on canvas hand-signed by the artist in the lower right corner, C. Mercader.
· The piece is in good conserved condition.
· The work is sold with a precious frame (included in the auction as a gift).
The work comes from an exclusive private collection in Girona.
Important note: the photographs included are an integral part of the lot description.
The painting will be professionally packed by an IVEX expert (https://www.instagram.com/ivex.online/), using high-quality materials to guarantee its protection. The shipping price covers both the cost of professional packaging and the transport itself.
Shipping will be carried out by Correos, GLS or NACEX with tracking. International shipping available.
------------------------------------------------------------------
This painting transports us to a private and serene corner of a rural setting, where architecture and nature coexist in a silent harmony. The scene centers around a narrow watercourse that runs gently through the middle of the composition, flanked by ancient walls and lush vegetation. On the left, a building with light-colored walls and a traditional roof rises above an older base, whose stones and bricks seem to tell stories of generations past. The daylight bathes the scene in a warm clarity, enhancing textures and creating a delicate play of shadows.
The main building features walls in ochre and whitish tones, with areas where the coating allows glimpses of older materials, contributing a sense of authenticity and the passage of time. On the roof, small garments hung out to dry add a human and everyday detail that breaks the architectural stillness and suggests life beyond what is visible. The chimney’s verticality contrasts with the horizontality of the landscape, balancing the composition and guiding the gaze toward the sky, partially covered by soft clouds.
The watercourse that traverses the scene is not heavy, but it reflects light and provides visual freshness. Its banks, covered with dense vegetation, show a rich variety of greens, from the darkest to the lightest. To the right, a wall partially covered with climbing plants blends with nature, blurring the boundary between what is built and what is organic. The vegetation seems to grow freely, enveloping the structures and softening their edges.
In the background, more buildings insinuate themselves among trees and shrubs, creating depth and spatial continuity. The earthen path that runs along the water leads the eye to that distant point, inviting the viewer to imagine a tranquil stroll through the place. The light, filtered through the clouds and vegetation, creates contrasts that add dynamism without breaking the atmosphere of calm. The whole scene transmits a sense of retreat, as if time slows down in this secluded space.
Taken as a whole, the work evokes the discreet beauty of rural corners where traditional architecture integrates with nature in a spontaneous way. The scene conveys serenity, memory, and a deep connection with the surroundings, inviting slow contemplation and enjoyment of the simple things. It is a landscape that speaks of history, intimacy, and harmony between human beings and their environment.

