RICARD CALVO DURAN | ROME: PIAZZA DEL POPOLO WITH CYCLIST | URBAN ILLUSTRATION | MIXED MEDIA ON PAPER

An unusual vision of the Eternal City where baroque monumentality gives way to the solitude of the urban cyclist.

HISTORY AND CURATORIAL ANALYSIS

Human Scale versus History. In this 1989 work, Ricard Calvo Duran transports us to one of Rome's most theatrical settings: the entrance to the Piazza del Popolo . However, the artist eschews the conventional tourist postcard. Instead of a crowded square, he presents us with an almost metaphysical, empty space, dominated by the perfect symmetry of the twin churches of Santa Maria in Montesanto and Santa Maria dei Miracoli.

Visual Analysis: Clear Line and Atmosphere The technical execution is impeccable, inheriting the best tradition of architectural illustration and the European "clear line".

• The Drawing: Calvo Duran uses ink to define with surgical precision the columns, domes and entablatures of the Roman Baroque.

• The Color: The watercolor application is atmospheric. The sky is not the typical blue of the Mediterranean, but a brownish-gray stain, heavy with moisture, which gives the scene a melancholic and sophisticated air.

• The Counterpoint: All the solemnity of the stone is broken by the figure of the cyclist in the foreground, dressed in a striking pink shirt. He is the discordant element that brings the work to life: a solitary human being pedaling towards the immensity of history.

WHY IS THIS PIECE AN OPPORTUNITY?

• Recognizable Iconography: It represents one of the world's most famous urban landmarks (the Trident of Rome), but viewed from an authorial perspective, which distances it from the souvenir .

• Timeless Aesthetics: Its clean, graphic style allows the work to fit both in a classic office (due to the theme) and in a modern living room (due to the technical execution and the use of negative space).

• Decorative Value: The contrast between the earth/stone tones of the architecture and the vibrant pink of the cyclist creates a very powerful visual focal point.

• Important Framing: The artwork features a wide and deep (5 cm) wooden frame that adds substance and protects the piece, ready to be hung.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Author: Ricard Calvo Duran (Signed "Calvoduran").

• Title/Theme: Rome: The Piazza del Popolo.

• Year/Period: 1989 (Dated next to the signature).

• Technique and Support: Mixed media on paper.

• Dimensions: Artwork: 42.5 x 52.5 cm | Frame: 54.5 x 62 x 5 cm.

• Signature: Handwritten in ink in the lower center area, with the location "Rome".

• Provenance: Private collection.

• Condition: Excellent. The paper retains its original whiteness at the edges and the colors remain vibrant.

• Inspection Guarantee: 14-day money-back guarantee to inspect the work in person.

THE WORKSHOP NOTE

Rome is a noisy and chaotic city, but Calvo Duran has managed to "turn off" the sound. By eliminating the traffic and the crowds, he leaves us alone with the architecture and that single cyclist. It's a work that conveys calm and elegance. I like to think of it as a visual pause; a window onto a Rome that only exists early in the morning or in the artist's imagination.

Includes Collector's Dossier: This work is delivered accompanied by a technical sheet and historical context prepared and printed by El Taller del Coleccionista, certifying our research.