Old Oil Painting Landscape Church of Saint-Maclou in Rouen Signed B. LANGRUNE

  
47 x 37 cm / 19 x 14 in. Antique painting, oil on wood, framed, depicting a perspective view of the church of Saint-Maclou in Rouen, a masterpiece of Flamboyant Gothic art recognizable by its famous five-sided monumental porch and slender spire. The church is positioned in the center of the composition, at the end of a cobbled street. It is framed by two rows of buildings in a typically French urban style, probably Rue Martainville or Rue de la République in Rouen.

Scene: The street scene evokes the 19th century. A red cart can be seen, probably a carriage or horse-drawn omnibus, along with silhouettes of pedestrians and a handcart on the right, giving the scene a lively, historical atmosphere.

Light and Colors: The palette is rather earthy and autumnal, dominated by brown and ochre tones for the cobblestones, and gray-blue for the threatening sky. Touches of pure white highlight the finely carved architectural details of the Gothic façade, such as the gables and pinnacles.

A red painted inscription clearly reads "ROUEN - ST MACLOU".

On the back: An old paper label is attached to the wooden panel.

The frame: The painting is presented in its original dark-stained wooden frame. Its distinctive feature is the arched or multifoil-shaped upper part, reminiscent of the Gothic architecture of the subject it contains, creating a very beautiful overall harmony.

This is a fine regional collector’s piece from Normandy, reflecting the tradition of landscape and urban painters attached to French architectural heritage.