Mateu (XX) - La casa de los arcos

Pictura Subastas presents this magnificent work of art belonging to Mateu, depicting an ancient stone house with large arches, blossoming balconies, and green shutters, viewed from a narrow street framed by a monumental architectural structure. The painting stands out for its excellent technique and the high pictorial quality it conveys.

• Framed dimensions: 49.5x44x6 cm.
• Unframed dimensions: 27x22 cm.
• Oil on canvas hand-signed by the artist at the bottom right.
• The piece is in good conservation condition.
• The work is sold with a precious frame (included in the auction as a gift).

The artwork 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 presents an intimate corner of an old town built around a stone house with large arches, small balconies, and windows protected by green shutters. The gaze enters a narrow, silent street, delimited on the right by a monumental ashlar structure that approaches the viewer powerfully. The aged façades, floral vegetation, deep shadowed spaces, and the small strip of blue sky create a serene, historic, and deeply evocative atmosphere.

The main dwelling occupies the left and central part. Its irregular façade rises on several levels and retains a robust appearance, marked by the passage of time. The walls combine greys, browns, violets, ochres, and small pinkish reflections that suggest the variety of stones and the changing effects of light.

The distribution of openings responds to traditional and slightly unsymmetrical architecture. Windows, doors, and balconies appear adapted to the different levels of the façade. This irregularity grants authenticity to the building and allows imagining successive transformations made over the years.

On the lower level two large stone arches stand out. The left one has a wide opening that is fully shaded. Its rounded shape rests on sturdy walls and seems to lead inside, through a passage or an ancient dependency.

The darkness of the arch contrasts with the light stones that form its outline. Grays, whites, greens, and violets carefully delimit the curve. This opposition between light and shadow adds depth and arouses curiosity about what remains hidden.

Inside the left arch is a large wooden door. Its brown, reddish, and black tones reveal its vertical structure. The door seems old and sturdy, designed to close a warehouse, a dwelling, or a space for artisanal work.

Above the arch is a narrow balcony with a dark iron railing. Its vertical and horizontal lines create a geometric structure that contrasts with the irregularity of the walls. The railing casts small shadows on the façade and adds delicacy.

Behind this balcony appears a door or window covered by a green shutter. The intense emerald color stands out against the greys and browns of the stone. A white frame surrounds the opening and increases the brightness of this area.

The shutter appears completely closed, reinforcing the sense of quiet. One can imagine it protecting the interior from the sun or that the dwelling is momentarily empty. This small everyday detail adds intimacy to the architecture.

On a higher level another balcony of smaller dimensions is visible. The opening is likewise framed in white and shows reddish and dark tones inside. Its elevated position guides the gaze toward the roof.

Next to this balcony there is a small narrow window. Its vertical shape and almost black interior interrupt the wall surface. These openings, of different sizes, create an irregular and picturesque rhythm.

The roof extends in a slight diagonal and is composed of reddish, orange, and brown tiles. Its irregular edge stands out against the blue sky. The warm tones of the roof balance the cool colors of the shadows and shutters.

Some parts of the roof seem worn and uneven. This appearance reinforces the building’s antiquity and suggests architecture preserved through generations. The roof protects the façade with a small dark eave.

In the central-right area there is a second arch, narrower and deeper. Its dark opening is partially hidden by the large foreground structure. This overlap increases depth and allows imagining the continuation of the street or interior dependencies.

Above this second arch sits another balcony with flowers. The dark railing holds several pots or plants in greens, reddish, pink, and white. This ornamentation introduces a note of life and delicacy amidst the stone’s sobriety.

Behind the flowers appears a new green shutter framed by a white edge. Its color connects with the balcony plants and the vegetation in the foreground. The repetition of this element helps unify the façade.

The flowers seem to lean slightly over the edge. Their small warm shapes contrast with the light wall and suggest the residents’ care. Although no people appear, the presence of the pots reveals that the house remains linked to daily life.

At the building’s base small plants grow between the stones. Dark greens, yellows, and whites soften the meeting of wall and ground. This spontaneous vegetation shows how nature occupies every available corner.

The large element on the right may correspond to the pillar of an arch, a monumental door, or a stone structure framing the street. Its proximity makes it occupy almost the full height and provides a strong sense of depth.

The ashlar blocks forming this pillar are clearly differentiated. Their surfaces combine creams, yellows, ochres, greys and small pinkish nuances. The dark joints between the stones reinforce the solidity and antiquity of the construction.

Each block presents slight changes in tone and size. Some areas seem illuminated, while others are covered by violet and brown shadows. This variety prevents the pillar from being perceived as a rigid surface.

Next to the ashlar, a very dark vertical stripe opens. It may correspond to the interior of a large arch, a door, or a foreground step. The depth of this shadow contrasts strongly with the illuminated areas of the façade.

In the upper right is a broad black and grey mass that may belong to the underside of the arch or to a nearby construction. Its horizontal lines suggest stone, beams, or architectural elements cast in shadow.

The presence of this large shadow acts as a frame surrounding the back house. The viewer seems to stand under an arch or beside a monumental door, looking at the façade on the other side. This vantage point turns the scene into an immersive experience.

In the upper left there is a small strip of light blue sky. Its brightness contrasts with the dark architecture and brings a sense of freshness. The sky helps understand the street’s narrowness, as it is reduced to an opening between buildings.

The light appears to descend from the upper left area and reach certain sections of the façade. The white frames, ochre stones, and green shutters receive clarity, while the arches and the large pillar remain in shadow.

This illumination creates a street-like atmosphere that is cool and sheltered. It could be a quiet morning or an afternoon when the sun only reaches parts of the buildings. The alternating light and shadow adds mystery and depth.

The ground occupies the bottom and is presented in ochres, browns, greys, and small violet reflections. Its diagonal lines lead toward the doors and arches. The surface seems slightly irregular, characteristic of an old street.

Some light areas of the ground suggest illuminated stones or a worn path. The dark shadows concentrate near the walls. This transition allows the architecture to blend with the terrain.

At the bottom right is a cluster of plants and flowers. Its green, yellow, and blue leaves mix with small pink accents. The vegetation introduces movement and softens the presence of the large pillar.

The foreground flowers seem related to the balcony pots. This repetition creates a chromatic path from the bottom area to the façade. Nature thus accompanies the whole architecture and adds warmth.

The color range is dominated by greys, browns, ochres, and blacks. The greens of the shutters and plants bring freshness, while pinks and reds introduce small warm accents. The blue of the sky completes the whole.

The composition is organized by a strong framing sense. The dark structure on the right and the side buildings guide attention toward the central house. The viewer seems to observe the place from a covered space or from inside another building.

The vertical lines of the façades and the pillar balance with the arches’ curves. The diagonals of the roofs and the ground add movement. This geometric variety makes the scene dynamic despite its calm.

The absence of human figures intensifies the importance of the architecture. Doors, windows, balconies, and flowers act as signals of an invisible presence. The street seems inhabited, yet crossed by a moment of complete silence.

The façade preserves traces of everyday life. Shutters protect the interiors, plants decorate the balcony, and doors guard private spaces. These details allow imagining the inhabitants without needing to depict them.

The arches add a historical and monumental dimension. Their large openings recall old rural houses, medieval buildings, or constructions adapted to the needs of a traditional town. Stone becomes testimony to the place’s memory.

The scene conveys the feeling of discovering a hidden corner. The close viewpoint, shadows, and the street’s narrowness prevent seeing the whole village. This limitation increases curiosity and suggests the street continues beyond the arches.

The work can be interpreted as a reflection on the passage of time. The walls endure, though they show wear; doors keep closing daily; and the flowers renew their color with the seasons. Architecture and nature live together in different rhythms.

The house symbolizes shelter, continuity, and belonging. Its robust appearance conveys security, while the balconies and flowers introduce intimacy. The building is not presented as a distant monument, but as a close and deeply human place.

The contrast between dark shadows and the small illuminated areas creates a mysterious yet welcoming atmosphere. The darkness invites imagining interiors and passageways, while the light reveals everyday details of the façade.

Overall, this precious painting offers an intimate and profoundly evocative view of an ancient stone house located on a narrow historic street, with large arches, wooden doors, small balconies, green shutters, and flowers that enliven the façade. The monumental ashlar structure in the foreground, the deep shadow areas, and the small opening of blue sky build an extraordinary sense of depth. The work conveys silence, memory, and the timeless charm of an architecture that preserves the invisible presence of entire generations.