Central European school, 19th century. "Stagecoach". Oil... Lot 1

Central European school, 19th century. "Stagecoach". Oil on canvas. Measurements: 55 x 72 cm.; 70 x 88 cm.(frame). A carriage has just arrived to a small village in the French countryside, although it could also identify a village in the Netherlands. Various members of a family are disembarking from the back staircase and the side door of the coach. The yellow colour of the vehicle provides a carefully studied chromatic note that contrasts with the grey and ochre dominance of the village. This helps to focus attention on the scene, which is also an unusual event for the villagers. This is attested to by two people sitting on a stone parapet, looking curiously at the strangers. In the distance, a window has been opened and two figures are leaning out of it. The rest of the shutters remain closed, lending a certain aura of mystery to the place. The church spire, with its sundial, is silhouetted against a clear sky, broken only by a few cottony clouds. The horse at the watering trough and the dog welcoming the travellers add vivid anecdotes to the composition, in which the drawing and colour harmonise well.