Juan Soler (1951) - Flores en la ciudad

Pictura Auctions presents this magnificent artwork by Juan Soler, depicting an elegant urban scene of a bygone era in which several women and a girl choose flowers at a colorful street stall. The painting is notable for its excellent technique and the high pictorial quality it conveys.

· Dimensions with frame: 43.5 x 43.5 x 5 cm.
· Dimensions without frame: 30 x 30 cm.
· Oil on canvas hand-signed by the artist in the lower left.
· The piece is in good conservation 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 part of the description of the lot. Digital representation in an orientative mockup; there may be differences compared to the actual item in color, scale, and details.

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.

------------------------------------------------------------------

This painting presents an animated urban scene set in an elegant flower market, where several figures gather around an abundant display of multicolored bouquets. The composition conveys the charm of a bright day in a European city of another era, blending daily life, architecture, fashion, and nature. The viewer seems to stand just a few steps from the stall, quietly partaking in the refined and bustling street atmosphere.

The center of the scene is occupied by an extraordinary variety of flowers arranged in large containers and baskets. Roses, blues, yellows, whites, oranges, and violets cluster in dense groups that bring joy and luminosity. This great floral mass becomes the true chromatic heart of the work and creates a marked contrast with the softer tones of the buildings and the pavement.

Behind the flowers appears the vendor, dressed in dark attire with a hat adorned. Her central position suggests she is attending to customers and displaying the various bouquets available. Her figure conveys professionalism and serenity, while her attentive gesture allows us to imagine a cordial conversation related to choosing the flowers.

In front of the stall stand three elegantly dressed women. One wears a long light dress and a decorated hat, and holds a yellow parasol that introduces a luminous color point in the central-right area. The second, leaning toward the flowers, wears a striking pink dress and seems to observe one of the bouquets closely. The tilt of her body adds naturalness and movement to the scene.

In the foreground appears a girl with her back to us, dressed in a delicate pink outfit and a light hat adorned with a blue ribbon. The little girl contemplates the flowers or perhaps waits for the women to finish their purchase. Her presence adds tenderness and reinforces the everyday character of the scene. The pink bag or small purse she carries at her side completes her elegant attire and adds a charming detail.

The female figures, with their long dresses, hats, and accessories, evoke a time of great urban refinement. The whites, purples, pinks, and blacks of their garments are distributed harmoniously around the stall. Their postures and movements suggest a calm activity: conversing, choosing flowers, or simply enjoying the stroll. The scene allows one to imagine the murmur of voices and the scent of freshly arranged bouquets.

To the left, a gentleman dressed in dark tones appears reading a newspaper. His concentration contrasts with the attention the women give to the flowers. Behind him a horse-drawn carriage and part of the animal are discernible, introducing an element related to transportation and city life. These details widen the narrative and place the scene within a busy street, though depicted with great serenity.

In the background a dark blue structure rises, possibly a kiosk, an entrance, or a small urban building. Its presence adds depth and serves as an elegant frame for the florists and customers. The roof, columns, and small top ornament confer a distinguished character to the architecture, while the striped awning adds a cozy detail typical of street shops.

The buildings on the left side appear in soft cream, gray, pink, and beige tones. Their windows and balconies suggest an elegant residential or commercial avenue. On the right side, a row of large trees partly covers the street and lets through filtered light. The branches form a green vault over the scene, bringing freshness and balancing the presence of the architecture.

The lamppost beside the tree reinforces the urban character of the landscape and helps recreate the atmosphere of a historic city. Further back, other figures can be seen walking along the street, represented more discreetly to increase the sense of distance. These secondary characters add life to the background without taking focus away from the group gathered around the market.

The light seems to spread softly across the whole composition, illuminating especially the light dresses, the parasol, and the flowers. The shaded areas under the trees and near the kiosk create depth and a pleasant sense of coolness. The pavement subtly reflects the colors of the surroundings and guides the eye toward the foreground figures.

Overall, this painting represents an elegant day at an urban flower market, where women, girls, merchants, and passersby share a mundane moment full of beauty. The abundance of flowers, the delicacy of the dresses, and the street’s architecture create a refined, luminous, and nostalgic atmosphere. The work celebrates urban life, period fashion, and the simple pleasure of stopping at a stall filled with color and fragrances.