Mateu (XX) - La casa de los arcos

Pictura Subastas presents this magnificent artwork belonging to Mateu, depicting an old stone house with large arches, flowering 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 conservational 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 form 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 an intimate corner of an old town built around a stone house with large arches, small balconies and green shutters. The viewer is drawn into a narrow, quiet street, delimited on the right by a monumental structure of ashlar that approaches the viewer with power. The weathered 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 over 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 arrangement of openings responds to traditional, somewhat asymmetrical architecture. Windows, doors and balconies appear adapted to the different levels of the façade. This irregularity lends authenticity to the building and allows one to imagine successive transformations carried out over the years.

On the lower level two large stone arches stand out. The first, on the left, has a wide, completely shaded opening. Its rounded form rests on sturdy walls and seems to lead inward, a passage or an old annex.

The darkness of the arch contrasts with the light-colored stones that shape its contour. The greys, 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 a large wooden door is discernible. Its brown, reddish and black tones reveal its vertical structure. The door seems old and sturdy, designed to close a storehouse, a dwelling, or a space intended 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 there 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 fully closed, reinforcing the sense of silence. 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 smaller balcony is observed. The opening is equally framed in white and shows reddish and dark tones inside. Its elevated position guides the gaze toward the roof.

Next to this balcony a small narrow window appears. Its vertical shape and nearly 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 made up of reddish, orange and brown tiles. Its irregular edge cuts against the blue sky. The warm tones of the roof balance the cool colors of the shadows and shutters.

Some parts of the roof appear 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 section a second arch, narrower and deeper, appears. Its dark opening is partially obscured by the large foreground structure. This overlap increases depth and allows one to imagine the continuation of the street or the interior spaces.

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

Behind the flowers a new green shutter appears framed by a white border. 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 slightly lean over the edge. Their small warm shapes contrast with the light wall and suggest the inhabitants’ care. Although no people appear, the presence of the pots reveals that the house remains linked to daily life.

At the base of the building small plants grow between the stones. The dark greens, yellows and whites soften the meeting between the wall and the ground. This spontaneous vegetation demonstrates how nature occupies every available nook.

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 gives a strong sense of depth.

The ashlar stones 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 shows slight changes in tone and size. Some areas seem lit, while others remain shaded by violet and brown shadows. This variety prevents the pillar from appearing as a rigid surface.

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

At the upper right extends a broad black and gray mass that could belong to the underside of the arch or to a nearby construction. Its horizontal lines suggest stone, beams, or architectural elements sinking into the gloom.

The presence of this large shadow acts as a frame surrounding the background house. The viewer seems to be under an arch or beside a monumental door, contemplating the façade on the other side. This viewpoint makes the scene an enveloping experience.

In the upper left a small strip of pale blue sky appears. Its luminosity 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 seems to descend from the upper left and reach certain sectors of the façade. The white frames, ochre stones and green shutters receive clarity, while the arches and the large pillar stay in shadow.

This lighting creates an atmosphere of a cool, sheltered street. It could be a quiet morning or an afternoon when the sun only touches parts of the buildings. The alternating light and shade add 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 appears slightly uneven, typical of an old street.

Some lighter areas of the ground suggest illuminated stones or a worn path from use. Dark shadows cluster near the walls. This transition allows the architecture to blend with the terrain.

In the extreme bottom-right appears a cluster of plants and flowers. Its green, yellow and bluish leaves mix with small pinkish 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 lower area up to the façade. Nature thus accompanies the entire architecture and adds warmth.

The color palette 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 sensation. The dark structure on the right and the side buildings direct attention toward the central house. The observer seems to view 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 roof and ground diagonals add movement. This geometric variety makes the scene dynamic despite its calmness.

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 traversed by a moment of complete silence.

The façade preserves traces of everyday life. The closed shutters protect the interiors, the plants decorate the balcony, and the doors guard private spaces. These details allow imagining the inhabitants without depicting them.

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

The scene transmits a sense of discovering a hidden corner. The close viewpoint, the shadows and the street’s narrowness prevent viewing the entire 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 coexist in different rhythms.

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

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

Overall, this precious painting offers an intimate and deeply 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 zones and the small blue sky opening build an extraordinary sense of depth. The work conveys silence, memory and the timeless charm of architecture that preserves the invisible presence of generations.