Spanish Rubio the Golden Rooster of Catalonia Folk Art Oil Painting c1930's

Rubio the Catalan Empordanesa Rooster, c.1930s Original Catalan Folk Art Oil Painting of a Golden Rooster An expressive and highly decorative Catalan folk painting 

Highlights

• Original Catalan folk art oil painting, circa 1930s

• Characterful portrait of “Rubio”, a golden Empordanesa rooster

• Oil on board

• Expressive folk-naïve technique with richly textured brushwork

• Vibrant golden, emerald, jade and teal palette

• Original handmade period folk frame

• Private Catalonian provenance

• Subsequently held within a Northern antiques and fine art dealer’s collection

• Previously loaned & exhibited

• Curated and catalogued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®

• Impressive 95 cm overall framed height

• Supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution from Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®

Introduction

A highly distinctive original Catalan folk painting depicting “Rubio”, a magnificent golden Empordanesa rooster, dating to circa the 1930s.

Executed in oil on board, Rubio is portrayed standing proudly amid a wonderfully stylised setting of swirling emerald, jade and blue-green foliage. His golden plumage and brilliant red comb emerge dramatically from the surrounding vegetation, creating an image of considerable decorative presence.

There is an engaging individuality to the bird. Rubio is not treated merely as part of a rural scene but presented almost as the sitter of a portrait — alert, confident and unmistakably full of character.

Retaining its original handmade folk frame, the painting combines rustic Catalan charm, regional interest and strong decorative appeal.

Catalogue Details

Title: Rubio the Catalan Empordanesa Rooster

Date: Circa 1930s

Origin: Catalonia, Spain

Medium: Oil on board

Subject: Empordanesa rooster

Style: Folk / naïve art

Signature: Unsigned

Frame: Original handmade period folk frame

The substantial dark-stained wooden frame incorporates carved rosette motifs and notched decoration. Its aged surface and handmade construction form an integral part of the painting’s distinctive folk character.

Catalogue Note

Rubio appears to represent the golden or Blat variety associated with the Empordanesa, a traditional poultry breed originating in the Empordà region of north-eastern Catalonia.

The artist has emphasised the rooster’s warm golden colouring, pale underfeathers, ivory-toned legs and vivid red comb, placing these against a highly decorative background dominated by rich greens and blue-greens.

Energetic brushwork gives the painting much of its personality. Broad, gestural strokes describe the plumage, while the vegetation is treated more freely through sweeping curves and loosely constructed areas of colour.

The resulting composition occupies an appealing territory between portraiture, regional folk art and decorative painting.

Rubio consequently becomes more than a farmyard subject: the painting preserves something of the visual culture and agricultural heritage of rural Catalonia during the early 20th century.

The Artist

The artist is presently unidentified.

The absence of a signature is not unusual within vernacular and folk-art traditions, particularly where works originated outside established academic or commercial artistic circles.

The painter nevertheless demonstrates considerable decorative confidence. The commanding silhouette of the rooster, vigorous handling of his plumage and imaginative treatment of the surrounding vegetation combine to produce an unusually memorable image.

The work is catalogued on stylistic and contextual grounds as Catalan folk art dating to circa the 1930s.

Provenance

Private collection, Catalonia, Spain.

Subsequently within the holdings of a Northern antiques and fine art dealer.

Thereafter curated and catalogued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®.

Previously loaned & privately exhibited with the Famous Lord Hill Museum

Dimensions

Overall framed dimensions:

95 cm high × 74 cm wide × 3.5 cm deep.

The generous proportions give the painting substantial presence within an interior.

Condition Report

Overall acceptable antique condition consistent with age.

The painted surface remains stable and retains strong colour. There are various areas of foxing and staining, together with craquelure, minor paint loss and small areas of white paint staining.

The painted surface would benefit from professional cleaning.

The original handmade frame displays general age-related wear, including chips, marks and a rich established patina consistent with its age.

Historic water damage is visible to the reverse of the board.

Please refer carefully to the accompanying photographs. Additional photographs and further condition information are available upon request.

Shipping

Worldwide shipping is available.

The painting will be professionally packaged with particular care given to protecting the original frame and painted surface during transit. Fully insured delivery is available for both domestic and international collectors.

Please contact us for further information regarding delivery requirements or destination-specific arrangements.

Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution

The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, recording the artwork’s catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated, and details of the sale. This document accompanies the work as part of its ongoing ownership and provenance record.

Attribution and Research

The historical observations, provenance research, attribution analysis and contextual commentary presented within this catalogue entry represent the professional opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. They are offered in good faith as informed scholarly assessments based upon the available evidence, comparative research, published reference material and our experience within the international fine art market.

These observations should be understood as professional opinions rather than definitive statements of fact or guarantees of authorship, attribution, date, origin, provenance or historical interpretation. As with all historic works of art, future documentary discoveries, technical examination, conservation analysis or advances in academic research may refine, expand or revise current interpretations.

Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®

Specialising in carefully curated British and European fine art, antiques and historic works of art.

Every artwork is professionally researched and catalogued using comparative scholarship, published reference material and more than two decades of experience within the international fine art market. We are committed to offering collectors works of artistic and historical merit accompanied by transparent provenance research, detailed catalogue descriptions and professional, client-focused service.

Additional photographs and further information are available upon request.