École valencienne (XX) - Le rodéo

Pictura Subastas presents this magnificent artwork from the Valencian school, representing 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 condition.
· The work is sold with a beautiful 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 ensure 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 presents a vibrant rural scene set in an open, sunny space where action and movement dominate the composition. In the foreground, a white fence marks the space and acts as a structural element that visually organizes the scene. Behind it, intense activity related to the rural and equestrian world unfolds. The warm light bathes the sandy terrain, 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 protagonize the moment.
In the left side, a man leaning on the fence is visible, dressed in traditional attire, with a wide-brimmed hat casting a shadow over his face. His relaxed posture suggests he is watching the scene with interest, perhaps as a spectator of a task or an equestrian test. In front of him, a young man holds the reins of a brown-coated horse, whose raised head and alert ears convey contained energy. The horse occupies the central visual weight, becoming the axis of the composition, with its musculature suggested by the light and its alert expression.
In the middle ground and background, a more intense scene unfolds: several riders mounted on horses drive 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, though the scene is captured in a frozen moment. The background constructions, simple with clear lines, place the action in a rural environment probably Mediterranean, reinforcing the work’s genre character.
The color palette is dominated by warm tones: ochres, browns, and yellows that evoke the heat of the field under the sun. The contrasts between the pale sand and the bluish shadows add depth, while red details, such as the scarf of the young man at the center, provide color points that animate the composition. The scene combines naturalness and spontaneity, with figures captured in real attitudes, far from academic rigidity. It conveys everyday life, tradition, and a bond with the land.

Spatial organization guides the eye from the spectator watching from 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 people in action, but a portrait of a rural practice, possibly linked to livestock tasks or bullfighting traditions. The atmosphere is luminous and dynamic, yet without excessive drama, highlighting the habitual and rooted character of the scene.

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