Manuel Fernandez

MANUEL FERNÁNDEZ CARMONA (1927-2021).
"View of Seville".
Oil on canvas.
Signed.
Measurements. 60 x 92 cm; 87 x 119 cm (frame).
In this work the author focuses on a luminous and evocative vision of Seville, where monumental architecture and port life merge in a scene of serenity and splendor. The painting captures the unmistakable profile of the city, dominated by the imposing silhouette of the Cathedral of Seville and its emblematic Giralda, which rise majestically above the urban ensemble. To the right, the robust presence of the Torre del Oro balances the composition and anchors the scene in the river setting.
The foreground offers a terrace adorned with pots and vibrant flowers, whose pink and reddish tones contrast with the bluish calm of the sky and water. This resource creates depth and brings the viewer closer to the scene, inviting him to contemplate the city from a privileged point. The green railing and the ceramic vessels provide a domestic and intimate air, which contrasts with the monumentality of the urban landscape.
In the center of the composition, the Guadalquivir River is presented as the vital axis of the city. Several sailing vessels, with their finely detailed masts and rigging, evoke the commercial and maritime dynamism that characterized Seville for centuries. The small human figures, barely sketched, reinforce the sense of everyday life without distracting from the architectural protagonism.
Light is one of the most outstanding elements of the work. The sky, furrowed by soft clouds, filters a warm clarity that bathes the facades in golden and ochre tones, highlighting the volumes and textures. The loose but precise brushwork suggests an approach close to 19th century academic landscape painting, with an interest in both architectural fidelity and atmosphere.