Spanish Landscape with Olive Groves

- Provenance: original artwork signed “Viana 66” lower right This piece was purchased in Europe in the 1960s and has since been part of the Winter family collection of Accokeek, Maryland. - Media: oil on canvas - Artwork Dimensions: 47 ½”h x 20"v - Frame Dimensions: 53 13/16"h x 27"v - Condition: excellent, like new Antonio Santos Viana was born in Madrid in 1942 and lived and worked in the city of Sigüenza. His style and technique were influenced by post-war and modern painting trends. He trained under, and worked alongside his father Fermin Santos; a well-known painter in Guadalajara. The younger Viana created paintings, works on paper, and mixed media pieces. Key stylistic elements of Viana’s work include an emphasis on abstraction, an interest in technology, and an exploration of the colors and textures of rural landscapes, demonstrating the influence of modern artistic movements while reflecting his deep connection to the Castilian countryside. His most notable works were: Máquinas (Machines), 1966 Puente de Segovia (Segovia Bridge), 1970 La Carreta (The Cart), 1974 Castillo Alcarreño (Castle of The Alcarria) and Paisaje (Landscape), 1975. In this particular work, one can really appreciate Viana’s emphasis on, and skill for rendering texture to adding a tactile quality to his surfaces, which is typical of his landscapes, suggesting the coarseness of the earth, fields and rustic structures, all while heightening a sense of dimension, space, distance and scale. The fields and groves planted with a pattern indicative of mechanical redundancy almost overlap as they force a two-point perspective. Viana’s distinct color palette utilizes the earthy and natural tones evocative of the Alcarria region, while drawing subtle attention to the verdant hills, and remote glow of the sunset in the corner of the viewing plane.

Condition

Used (normal wear)

Features

Signed, Framed

Size

Large (up to 60in.)

Color

Brown

Style

Modern

Medium

Oil