Joan Vila Arimany (1944) - Mercado de flores

Pictura Gallery presents this magnificent artwork belonging to Vila Arimany, depicting a tranquil historic square presided over by an ancient tree and surrounded by flowers, benches, and old buildings. The painting stands out for its excellent technique and the high pictorial quality it conveys.

• Frame dimensions: 73x113x5 cm.
• Artwork dimensions: 73x92 cm.
• Oil on canvas hand-signed by the artist in the lower right corner, Vila Arimany.
• The piece is in good preservation 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.

The artwork 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 or GLS with tracking. International shipping is available.

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This painting presents a quiet urban square dominated by the enormous trunk of a centennial tree, whose presence dominates the foreground and organizes the entire composition. Around it unfolds a space full of small details: flowers in many colors, wooden benches, old façades, pots, a monumental entrance, and a solitary human figure. The scene conveys serenity and everyday beauty, as if captured during a quiet morning when the square has not yet begun to fill with people.

The tree occupies much of the right side and immediately becomes the most powerful element of the image. Its trunk is wide, robust, and irregular, with a base that widens before sinking into the ground. The visible roots seem to advance across the ground like large living forms, conveying the impression that the tree has grown in that very place for many years.

The bark shows an extraordinary variety of shades. Greys, blues, whites, browns, and small greenish touches combine to display a surface marked by the passage of time. Some areas look smoother, while others are covered with stains, cracks, and roughness. This visual richness makes the trunk a kind of natural monument.

Around the base appears a circular patch of earth bordered by a low edge. This rounded shape separates the tree from the pavement and further emphasizes its presence. The curve of the alcorque contrasts with the straight lines of the tiles, buildings, and flower displays, adding balance to the composition.

The trunk rises and disappears at the top of the image, inviting the imagination of a huge canopy extending over the entire square. The branches and leaves visible in the upper left and central area form a natural canopy that provides shade. Although much of the crown is outside the composition, its presence is perceived through the cool light that envelops the space.

On the left side, there is an abundant display of flowers and plants. The pots are arranged in rows and grouped on boxes and rectangular structures. This arrangement creates a sequence of colors that begins at the bottom and extends toward the background, guiding the visual path through the square.

Among the flowers stand out reds, pinks, oranges, yellows, whites, violets, and greens. Some plants feature small, delicate blossoms, while others form dense, rounded masses. The color variety brings joy to a scene dominated by greys and blues, making this corner the main focal point of color.

The displays occupy a diagonal position that leads the eye toward the center. The lines of the boxes, pots, and the pavement edges direct toward the entrance in the distance. This organization adds depth and makes the viewer feel as if they could walk among the flowers and continue toward the building.

Next to the floral display appears a small garden or central grouping of taller plants. Its dark leaves, flowers, and irregular volumes create a natural separation between the different paths of the square. Some plants seem to grow freely, while others are carefully ordered, combining spontaneity and human care.

To the right of this small garden lies a row of wooden benches. Their empty seats face the open space and seem to invite stopping, resting, and contemplating the environment. The absence of people sitting intensifies the sense of calm and allows imagining the square before neighbors and visitors arrive.

The benches create a rhythmic succession that leads toward the background. Their shapes progressively become smaller, reinforcing depth. They also introduce an indirect human presence, reminding us that the square is a place of gathering, conversation, and rest, even though it is almost empty at the moment depicted.

In the background rises an old building whose monumental entrance stands out. The door is framed by a large light stone arch that contrasts with the reddish brick wall. This architecture lends solemnity and suggests a church, chapel, or historic building of particular importance to the community.

The door has a symmetrical structure with vertical divisions and a semicircular top. The blueish and grey tones of its frame contrast with the warmth of the bricks. The interior remains dark and closed, arousing curiosity about the space that hides beyond the entrance.

Near the door you can observe a small cross on the wall. This detail reinforces the possible religious identity of the building and adds a spiritual dimension to the scene. The square seems to extend in front of the temple as a place of coexistence where daily life, nature, and history come together.

The trees in the background integrate with the architecture and soften the rigidity of the façades. Their slender trunks rise in front of the arch, while the canopies extend across the upper part. This superposition demonstrates how nature and the city coexist in harmony within the same space.

On the right side appears another building of a more commercial character. Its façade features windows, a small sign, and a traditional-looking exterior lamp. The presence of this lamp adds charm and suggests that the place preserves an old identity, distant from a fully modern architecture.

Under the façade stretches a covered structure that could belong to a business, a terrace, or a market area. In front of it stand large planters full of vegetation. These rectangular containers form a green barrier that separates the building from the circulation space.

In the area near this building a human figure is discernible. The person appears small and partially hidden, walking or standing under the cover. Their size helps us grasp the monumentality of the tree and the architecture. At the same time, their presence prevents the square from feeling deserted.

The solitary figure introduces a small narrative within the scene. It could be a merchant preparing the establishment, a neighbor crossing the square, or someone heading toward the historic building. The lack of other characters makes their presence a discreet and mysterious detail.

The pavement covers a wide expanse and is traversed by lines that form different rectangular zones. These divisions organize the space and guide the gaze toward the background. The grey and blue tones of the ground reflect the shade of the trees and impart a pleasant sense of coolness.

The lighting is soft and seems to correspond to an early hour of the day or a moment with a slightly overcast sky. There are no strong contrasts, but a tranquil clarity that envelops the façades, the pavement, and the vegetation. This light allows appreciating details without breaking the atmosphere of serenity.

The overall palette is dominated by blues, greys, muted greens, and earth tones. Against this sober base, warm flowers and the reddish bricks of the entrance stand out. The balance between cool colors and small warm focal points makes the square inviting, while preserving a quiet and contemplative air.

The work conveys the sense of a place with memory. The centennial tree, the stone-and-brick building, the benches, and the façades seem to have witnessed many generations. The flowers and the solitary figure, by contrast, represent the present life continuing to unfold around those permanent elements.

Overall, the piece portrays a historic and tranquil square presided over by a majestic centennial tree, surrounded by flowers, benches, shops, and a monumental ancient entrance. The blend of nature, architecture, and daily life creates a scene full of harmony and memory. The painting communicates the serenity of a cared-for urban corner where time appears to pass slowly under the protective shade of the great tree.