Jaume Rodes (1949) - La iglesia de Olot

Pictura Subastas presents this magnificent artwork belonging to Jaume Rodes, depicting an ancient square with a church and clock, a grand staircase, and several people moving through the surroundings. The painting stands out for its excellent technique and the high pictorial quality it conveys.

· Framed dimensions: 99x117x8 cm.
· Unframed dimensions: 81x100 cm.
· Oil on canvas signed by the artist in the lower right of the work.
· The piece is in good conservation condition.
· The work is sold with a lovely 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. Digital representation in an indicative mockup; there may be differences with the actual article 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.

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This painting shows an ancient square dominated by a stone church, whose façade rises in the center of the composition. The gaze is directed to the main entrance, located at the end of a wide staircase that ascends from the square and leads to the arch of the door. Above it, a large circular clock stands out at the top of the building and seems to mark the slow rhythm of life in the place. The church, with its sober walls and vertical lines, contrasts with the lower buildings surrounding it and with the blue sky that opens to its left. The scene evokes a historic corner, full of character and everyday activity.

The staircase occupies a good portion of the foreground and acts as a visual axis that connects the square with the church entrance. Its wide steps, flanked by low walls and railings, guide the eye upward and give a sense of depth. On them are distributed several figures who go up, down, or pause, each at their own pace. Their small silhouettes, dressed in muted colors with some brighter touches, provide scale to the architecture and suggest that the space remains a meeting point for inhabitants. The presence of these people breaks the quiet of the buildings and turns the square into a lived-in place, crossed by conversations and small movements.

On both sides of the church appear buildings with warm façades and balconies, windows and roofs that accompany the perspective of the square. To the left, the houses receive more light and show light tones, pinkish and yellow; to the right, a tall and dark building frames the scene and creates a shaded area that contrasts with the clarity of the central space. In the lower right corner a small stall or canopy is visible, beside some figures, suggesting the presence of commercial activity or a market. These details complete the image of a population where life develops around the square and its most emblematic buildings.

Light plays an essential role in the atmosphere of the work. The square and some sections of the staircase appear bathed in a soft clarity, while the façades and side passages retain bluish and gray shadows. The combination of yellows, ochres and earth tones in the stone with the cool hues of the shadows creates a balance between warmth and contemplation. The clear sky, visible above the left rooftops, adds freshness and visually expands the space. Observing the scene, one can imagine a quiet morning or afternoon in which neighbors come to the church, cross the square or pause for a moment before continuing their way.

Overall, the work portrays a historic square in which a clock-towered church, a grand staircase, and several human figures form a serene, bustling urban scene. The architecture conveys antiquity and solidity, while the people and the small stall provide closeness and movement. The composition guides the viewer’s gaze from the open space of the foreground to the temple entrance, inviting a visual walk along each step and each façade. The result is an evocative image of a place where history, daily life, and gathering coexist, with a tranquil atmosphere that seems to preserve the memory of many generations.