École valencienne (XX) - Le rodéo

Pictura Subastas presents this magnificent artwork belonging to the Valencian school, depicting a traditional scene of livestock handling and equestrian activity in a rural setting bathed in sunlight. The painting stands out for its excellent technique and the high pictorial quality it conveys.

· Frame dimensions: 36x44x4 cm.
· Artwork dimensions: 25x34 cm.
· Oil on panel.
· The piece is in good conservation 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 IVEX (https://www.instagram.com/ivex.online/), using high-quality materials to ensure its protection. The shipping price covers both the cost of professional packaging and the transport itself.
Shipping will be via Correos, GLS or NACEX with tracking. International shipping is available.

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This painting presents a vibrant countryside scene set in an open, sunny space where action and movement dominate the composition. In the foreground, a white fence marks off the space and serves as a structural element that visually organizes the scene. Behind it unfolds intense activity linked to rural and equestrian life. Warm light bathes the sandy ground, casting long shadows that add depth and dynamism. The low, clear horizon allows the viewer’s attention to focus on the human figures and animals that drive the moment.
On the left side, a man leans on the fence, dressed in traditional attire, whose wide-brimmed hat casts a shadow over his face. His relaxed posture suggests he is watching the scene with interest, perhaps as an observer of a task or an equestrian test. Facing him, a young man holds the reins of a chestnut horse, whose raised head and attentive ears convey contained energy. The horse occupies the central visual axis, becoming the focal point of the composition, with its musculature hinted at by the light and its alert expression.
In the middle ground and in the background, a more intense scene unfolds: several riders on horseback guide or surround a compact group of bulls advancing in formation. The arrangement of the livestock creates a horizontal line that balances the verticality of the human figures in the foreground. The dust kicked up by the movement suggests speed and tension, even though the scene is captured in a frozen moment. The background structures, simple with clear lines, place the action in a rural setting most likely Mediterranean, reinforcing the work’s folkloric character.
The color palette is dominated by warm tones: ochers, browns and yellows that evoke the field’s heat under the sun. The contrasts between light sand and bluish shadows add depth, while red details, such as the scarf of the young man at the center, provide color accents that enliven the composition. The scene blends naturalism and spontaneity, with figures captured in real attitudes, far from academic rigidity. All conveys everyday life, tradition and a connection to the land.

Spatial organization guides the eye from the spectator leaning on the fence, past the central horse, to the group of riders and bulls in the background, creating a fluid narrative journey. It is not merely a depiction of animals and men in action, but a portrait of a rural practice, possibly linked to livestock management or taurine traditions. The atmosphere is bright and dynamic, but without excessive drama, highlighting the customary and deeply rooted character of the scene.

Overall. The work portrays a rural scene linked to livestock handling and the equestrian world, capturing with vitality and light the spirit of a countryside tradition full of movement and authenticity.