Francesc Vidal Palmada (1894-1958) - La tierra florecida

Pictura Subastas presents this magnificent work of art belonging to Vidal Palmada, depicting a rural village surrounded by flowering fields and protected by a great mountain range, as a symbol of work, community, abundance and harmony with nature. The painting stands out for its excellent technique and the high pictorial quality it conveys.

· Frame dimensions: 53x121x3 cm.
· Unframed dimensions: 51x119 cm.
· Oil on canvas hand-signed by the artist on the left side of the work.
· The piece is in good preserved 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. Digital representation in a mockup is indicative; there may be differences with the real article in color, scale and details.

The painting will be professionally packaged by an IVEX expert (https://www.instagram.com/ivex.online/), using high-quality materials to ensure protection. The shipping price covers both the cost of professional packaging and the transportation itself.
Shipping will be carried out by Correos, GLS or NACEX with tracking. International shipping available.

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This painting presents an extensive rural landscape in which a wide field covered with small light flowers unfolds from the foreground to the outskirts of a village at the foot of a powerful mountain range. The composition has a particularly panoramic format that allows viewing the breadth of the valley, the distribution of crops, the buildings clustered around a bell tower, and the mountains dominating the horizon. Two small figures work among the vegetation, introducing a discreet human presence within the vast natural setting. The scene conveys serenity, abundance and a deep connection between land, labor and community life.

The foreground is entirely occupied by an extensive vegetal surface. Light, dark and bluish greens merge with countless white, pink and yellowish dots that seem to correspond to small flowers. This vegetation creates a dense yet delicate visual texture. The field resembles a large natural carpet extended before the viewer.

The flowers are distributed irregularly and form more abundant clusters in some areas. The closest ones appear clearly differentiated by small bright spots, while the far ones merge into a white-greenish haze. This transition increases depth. The field seems to continue far beyond what the eye can distinguish.

The white tones bring intense brightness to the lower part. They do not form a uniform surface, but a succession of small sparkles among the leaves. Some flowers have pink and violet nuances that soften the green dominance. The abundance suggests a late spring or the moment of maximum flowering of some crop.

At the bottom right, the vegetation becomes darker and denser. Deep greens, blacks and bluish tones predominate, creating a shadow area that contrasts with the illuminated center. This difference may be due to the slope of the terrain, proximity to an edge or less light incidence. The darkness frames the landscape and guides the eye toward the village.

The field is organized in gentle undulations that extend toward the horizon. Some areas appear slightly raised, while others form small depressions. These variations avoid a flat surface and convey the real breadth of the terrain. The gaze travels slowly across the field before reaching the buildings.

In the central left area appears a small tree with a rounded crown. Its leaves combine dark greens, grays and light yellow tones. The trunk barely stands out among the vegetation, but the crown stands out against the light field. Its presence provides a scale reference and breaks the dominant horizontality.

Next to this tree appear two small human figures. One seems to stand upright or slightly tilted, while the other is crouched on the ground. Their dark colors contrast with the field’s clarity. The position suggests they are performing a cultivation or harvesting task.

Near the figures small shapes can be distinguished that could correspond to containers, tools or baskets. These details reinforce the interpretation of a day’s work in agriculture. Although people occupy little space, their presence is fundamental. They introduce a daily narrative and help understand the vast expanse of the lands.

The workers appear completely integrated into the landscape. They do not dominate nature nor interrupt its serenity, but participate in its cycles. Their effort may relate to sowing, tending or harvesting. The scene thus celebrates the direct bond between people and the land.

Behind the figures several strips of cultivation appear. Some are green and light, while others show brown, reddish and violet tones. The plots form diagonal lines that lead toward the village. This organization reveals a worked and carefully distributed territory.

A plot with a reddish tone stands out near the center. Its elongated shape contrasts with the white and green field. It could correspond to recently tilled earth or a different crop. This chromatic variation adds depth and demonstrates the valley’s agricultural diversity.

Toward the right a large field almost completely covered with light flowers extends. Its surface occupies a considerable area and rises slightly toward the horizon. At the edge there is a dark line of shrubs or tall crops. This strip defines the plot and guides the eye to the hills.

The margin vegetation consists of intense greens and yellows. It could be a row of trees, vines, shrubs or cultivated plants. Its regular arrangement suggests human intervention. The borders between plots create an organized structure within the natural breadth.

The village stretches horizontally in the central area. Its houses appear grouped and show white, beige, gray, ochre and reddish façades. The roofs are dominated by reds and browns that stand out against the valley’s greens. The proximity of the buildings conveys a strong sense of community.

On the far left of the village several low houses are found. Their simple shapes and reddish roofs align near the fields. Some façades have small dark windows, while others are partially hidden by vegetation. The ensemble seems to have grown progressively around agricultural activity.

Near the center a larger building with a reddish-brown façade rises. Its numerous windows and prominent position suggest an important building within the town. It could be a manor house, a town hall, a rectory or an old residence. Its volume acts as a landmark.

Next to this building a narrow vertical bell tower rises. Its clear tower stands out strongly against the dark mountain. At the top small openings and a slightly darker roof are distinguishable. The bell tower constitutes the main architectural axis and marks the spiritual center of the village.

The tower adds verticality to a composition dominated by horizontal lines. Its silhouette visually links the houses with the sky and the mountains. One might imagine its bells organizing the daily rhythm of the inhabitants, announcing celebrations, work hours and moments of gathering. The bell tower symbolizes permanence and tradition.

To the right of the tower extends a row of buildings with light façades. Some have two floors and show windows arranged regularly. The reddish roofs create a continuous line. These houses seem to open directly toward the fields.

One of the central buildings presents several dark doors or arches on the ground floor. Its light gray façade contrasts with the red of the roof. The repetition of windows provides order and stability. It could be a construction linked to community life or agricultural activity.

Further to the right appears a yellowish home with a reddish roof. Its warm tones stand out against the gray buildings. The façade seems to receive soft light. This chromatic variation prevents the village from looking uniform and brings life to the whole.

Chimneys are distributed on different roofs and cut against the mountain. These small elements allow imagining the interiors and domestic activities. Although no smoke is visible, the houses appear inhabited. The proximity of the fields demonstrates the close relationship between home and work.

On the right slope several isolated rural houses are found. Some are surrounded by green plots, shrubs and small trees. Their dark and reddish roofs stand out against the terrain. These constructions widen the village toward the hills.

A house in the upper right corner occupies a particularly green area. Surrounding it are wavy crop strips and small paths. Its isolation conveys calm. It seems to be a country estate or farm from which one can overlook the entire valley.

Closer to the far right two houses appear separated by fields and vegetation. Their simple shapes reflect an architecture adapted to the rural environment. The distance between them reinforces the landscape’s breadth. Each house seems to form the center of its own plot.

The right hills display bright greens, yellows and small brown areas. The plots follow the terrain’s slope and create a rhythm of curves and diagonals. Some areas seem covered by young crops, while others show exposed earth. The light highlights this area especially.

Behind the village stretches a large mountain mass. The lower slopes show dark greens, bluish and gray tones, while the summits acquire deeper hues. The mountain range runs across the horizon and visually envelops the valley. Its presence provides a sense of protection and monumentality.

The peaks have irregular and rocky profiles. In the central area a higher elevation is distinguished, accompanied by other sharp and rounded shapes. Some surfaces seem almost black, while others receive grayish reflections. This diversity conveys the complexity of the relief.

To the left, the mountains become softer and blue due to distance. Their profiles overlap and create different planes. The cool color contrasts with the warm tones of the roofs. This transition provides great depth to the landscape.

In the central upper part a prominent elevated rock formation stands out. Its dark silhouette is cut against the clouds and seems to dominate the whole. This summit can be interpreted as a symbol of strength and permanence. The village, at its feet, seems protected by the mountain.

The sky occupies a relatively narrow strip at the top. Predominantly light blues and whites, with several large and bright clouds. Some clouds accumulate behind the summits and soften their profiles. The atmosphere feels fresh and slightly changeable.

The clarity of the sky extends over the fields and allows distinguishing the flowers, plots and buildings. There is no excessively harsh lighting, but a broad and balanced light. The mountains remain darker, increasing the contrast with the valley. This relationship creates a sense of depth and calm.

The color palette is dominated by greens, whites, blues, reds and ochres. The greens and whites express the vitality of the crops; the blues bring distance and serenity; the reds of the roofs introduce warmth; and the ochres remind of the land’s presence. All colors are organized in broad horizontal bands.

The panoramic format emphasizes the valley’s breadth. The eye can freely move from the houses at the far left to the elevated plots on the right. The bell tower acts as a central axis, while the mountains provide continuity. The flowering field occupies the foreground and creates a luminous entry.

The composition establishes a journey from the nearby nature to architecture and mountains. First the flowers, then the workers, later the village and finally the peaks. This sequence helps understand the relationship between each element. The landscape is built as a complete and balanced world.

The absence of grand actions reinforces tranquility. The peasants work in silence, the village rests and the mountains remain still. Yet the scene is full of life: the flowers cover the fields, the houses are inhabited and the plots reveal activity. Calm does not mean abandonment, but harmony.

The flowering field can be interpreted as a symbol of abundance, renewal and hope. Its extent proves the land’s generosity and the outcome of natural cycles. The small flowers form a humble but extraordinarily beautiful surface. The foreground celebrates life in its simplest form.

The peasants symbolize effort and constancy. Their small size before the landscape reminds of human humility, but their work is essential to organize and maintain the fields. They represent a life tied to the seasons. Their labor connects the present with an ancient tradition.

The village embodies community, home and permanence. Its clustered houses offer shelter, while the bell tower marks a shared center. The architecture is part of the landscape and does not seem to impose itself upon it. Human life adapts to the valley and coexists with the mountains.

The mountain range represents stability, protection and the passage of time. In front of crop cycles and daily activity, the mountains remain as silent witnesses. Its presence gives grandeur to a rural scene. The landscape thus brings together the changing and the permanent.

Overall, this painting represents a fertile valley covered by expansive flowering fields and presided over by a village with reddish roofs and a tall bell tower, all protected by a great mountain range. The small figures working the land introduce an image of effort, tradition and continuity, while the green and white plots express abundance and renewal. The village embodies home and community; the fields, life and hope; and the mountains, protection and permanence. The work celebrates the harmonious coexistence between nature, work and rural architecture, turning the landscape into a profound evocation of the land and its inhabitants.