Items Similar to Àlvar Suñol "La prière du torero" 1963 Large Spanish Modernist Oil Painting
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 12
Alvar Sunol Munoz-RamosÀlvar Suñol "La prière du torero" 1963 Large Spanish Modernist Oil Painting1963
1963
$50,000
£37,685.94
€43,558.18
CA$70,649.74
A$77,222.72
CHF 40,671.33
MX$949,527.59
NOK 508,279.62
SEK 478,190.79
DKK 325,188.70
About the Item
ÀLVAR SUÑOL – "LA PRIÈRE DU TORERO" (THE BULLFIGHTER'S PRAYER)
⚜ Oil on Canvas ⚜ Hand Signed Lower Left and on Verso; Dated 1963 ⚜ Original Carved Wood Frame
A MASTERWORK OF FAITH AND RITUAL
Painted in 1963, this large and powerful canvas by Àlvar Suñol, La prière du torero ("The Bullfighter’s Prayer"), captures the moment of solemn reflection before the spectacle of the bullfight. The figure, draped in red and gold, is depicted in a deeply spiritual posture with a looming cross in the background, underscoring themes of mortality, ritual, and devotion.
This painting represents an early pinnacle in Àlvar’s career, where his bold textural handling and somber palette intersect with Spanish cultural identity and universal human themes. Unlike his later works that explore lyrical dreamscapes, here Àlvar confronts the viewer with intensity and gravity—making it a rare, emotionally charged piece within his body of work.
The painting was exhibited through Galerie Drouant, Paris, in 1963 under the directorship of Juan Fuentes, a pivotal figure in Àlvar’s development and international recognition. Works from this period defined Àlvar’s reputation and were later catalogued in Jacques Lassaigne’s 1982 monograph on the artist, attesting to its enduring significance.
WHY COLLECT THIS WORK?
✓ Large, museum-quality canvas by Àlvar Suñol, painted during a pivotal early period
✓ Explores one of the artist’s most profound themes: the intersection of faith, ritual, and identity
✓ Exceptional provenance: Galerie Drouant, Paris (1963), with label affixed to verso
✓ Documented in Jacques Lassaigne’s 1982 publication Alvar, a key reference for collectors and institutions
ARTWORK DETAILS:
▸ Title: "La prière du torero" (The Bullfighter’s Prayer)
▸ Artist: Àlvar Suñol
▸ Medium: Oil on Canvas
▸ Creation Date: 1963
▸ Country of Creation: France
▸ Signature: Hand Signed Lower Left and on Verso; Dated on Verso
▸ Dimensions:
— ◼︎ Canvas Size: 27 x 37.5 inches
— ◻︎ Frame Size: 39.5 x 50.25 x 3 inches
▸ Condition: Excellent condition. Canvas and frame are both in outstanding state, commensurate with age.
▸ Framing: Original custom carved wood frame, ready to hang.
PROVENANCE & DOCUMENTATION:
— Galerie Drouant, Paris, 1963 (label affixed to verso)
— Published in: Jacques Lassaigne, Alvar, Edmund Newman Inc., 1982
OTHER INCLUDED DOCUMENTATION:
✓ Certificate of Authenticity
✓ Artist Biography Document
THE ARTIST:
Àlvar Suñol (b. 1935), commonly known as Àlvar, is a celebrated Spanish painter, sculptor, and printmaker whose career spans over six decades. Rooted in Catalan traditions yet internationally recognized, Àlvar’s works bridge the sacred and the everyday, often blending figuration with lyrical abstraction. He first rose to prominence in Paris during the 1960s, with Galerie Drouant playing a vital role in launching his career under the guidance of director Juan Fuentes.
Àlvar’s works are housed in major collections worldwide, and his art often engages with themes of spirituality, mythology, and the human condition. Collectors and scholars place him alongside other major Spanish modernists of the post-war era, such as Antoni Tàpies and Josep Guinovart, for his unique ability to fuse technical mastery with symbolic depth.
- Creator:Alvar Sunol Munoz-Ramos (1935, Spanish)
- Creation Year:1963
- Dimensions:Height: 39.5 in (100.33 cm)Width: 50.25 in (127.64 cm)Depth: 3 in (7.62 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Framing:Frame IncludedFraming Options Available
- Condition:This piece is well-preserved, in great condition consistent with age, framed, and ready to hang.
- Gallery Location:Miami, FL
- Reference Number:Seller: 1016281stDibs: LU2843216864992
Alvar Sunol Munoz-Ramos
Alvar Suñol Alvar Suñol Munoz-Ramos, commonly known as Alvar, was born in 1935 in Montgat, Spain, a Catalan fishing village on the Mediterranean coast near Barcelona. By the age of 17, he was accepted into the Escuela Superior de Bellas Artes de San Jorge in Barcelona. In 1960, he moved to Paris and exhibited with other major Spanish artists including Picasso, Miró, and Dalí. Today, Alvar is recognized on an international platform for his exploration of the psychological and historical complexities of art-making and creation in relation to one’s environment and experiences. The examination of both interiors and exterior spaces place a significant role in all of Alvar’s works. Alvar strengthens his artistic vision through the use of various mediums including oil paintings, lithographs, watercolors, drawings, bronzes, and ceramic bas relief sculptures. His works can be found in the permanent collection of over fourteen museums worldwide and he has several public commissions around the world, including his most recent bronze sculpture created in honor of Catalan cellist Pablo Casals that is located in Paris, France. Additionally, Alvar has had three consecutive retrospectives since 2014. His first was hosted at Las Casa de Cultura (The Cultural Center) of Girona, Catalonia, Spain. One year later, Alvar had a second retrospective at the Castell de Benedormiens, in Castell d'Aro, Girona, Spain. Most recently, the Castell de Calonge in Girona, Spain recognized Alvar’s lengthy career from 1954 to 2016 with a retrospective titled, Una Vida Pintant (A Life of Painting). Retrospectives 2016 Una Vida Pintant, 1954-2016, Castell de Calonge, Girona, Spain 2015 Passat i Present,1954-2015, Castell de Benedormiens, Girona, Spain Interiors, Museu de la Mediterrània, Torroella de Montgrí
2014 Alvar Suñol: Una antològica des del 1954-2014, Casa de Cultura de la Diputació de Girona, Girona Spain Museum Shows 2009 Persistències: Exposicio de Dibuixos, Museo de Dibujo Julio Gabin, Castillo de Larrés, Huesca, Spain
2008 Inauguració de l’Escultura, “A Pau Casals” al carrer Pau Casals, Boulogne-Villencourt, Paris, France
2007 Alvar Suñol: Retrospectiva 1954-2008, Museu de Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
The Georgia Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA Alvar: Contemporary Renaissance, A Retrospective, Albany Museum of Art, Albany, GA Alvar Suñol: A Retrospective, Appleton Museum of Art, Ocala, FL 2003 Realizació de l’escultura “Mediterrània” situada a la Plaça de les Mallorquines, Montgat, Montgat, Spain
2001 Alvar: Huellas en el tiempo, A Retrospective, Instituto Cervantes, Toulouse & Bordeaux, France Lithographs by Alvar, Retrospective, Georgia Museum of Art, Athens, GA 2000 Alvar: Empremptes en el temps, Abadia de Sant Miquel del Fai, Barcelona, Spain 1999 Heullas en el Timpo, Retrospective, Sala Moneo, Ayuntamiento de Logroño Heullas en el Timpo, Retrospective, Centro Cultural Ibercaja, Guadalajara 1997 Empremptes en el temps, Retrospective, Castell de Benedormiens, Castell d’Aro, Girona, Spain
1983 Wichita Museum of Art, Wichita, Kansas
1982 Utah Museum of Fine Art, Salt Lake City
1978 Musée Hyacinthe Rigaud, Perpinyà
About the Seller
No Reviews Yet
Vetted Professional Seller
Every seller passes strict standards for authenticity and reliability
Established in 1968
1stDibs seller since 2025
5 sales on 1stDibs
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Miami, FL
- Return Policy
Authenticity Guarantee
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with an item’s authenticity, contact us within 1 year for a full refund. DetailsMoney-Back Guarantee
If your item is not as described, is damaged in transit, or does not arrive, contact us within 7 days for a full refund. Details24-Hour Cancellation
You have a 24-hour grace period in which to reconsider your purchase, with no questions asked.Vetted Professional Sellers
Our world-class sellers must adhere to strict standards for service and quality, maintaining the integrity of our listings.Price-Match Guarantee
If you find that a seller listed the same item for a lower price elsewhere, we’ll match it.Trusted Global Delivery
Our best-in-class carrier network provides specialized shipping options worldwide, including custom delivery.More From This Seller
View AllCharles Levier [Mélodie cosmique] circa 1955 signed oil on board, Surrealist
By Charles Levier
Located in Miami, FL
CHARLES LEVIER – "[MÉLODIE COSMIQUE]"
⚜ Oil on board ⚜ Hand signed lower right ⚜ Custom frame
SURREALIST-INFLECTED MID-CENTURY ABSTRACTION
In [Mélodie cosmique], Charles Levier depa...
Category
1950s Surrealist Abstract Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
Charles Levier [Solitude de Pierrot] signed large oil on canvas circa 1950
By Charles Levier
Located in Miami, FL
CHARLES LEVIER – [SOLITUDE DE PIERROT
⚜ Oil on Canvas ⚜ Hand Signed Lower Right ⚜ Original Period Frame
A THEATRICAL PORTRAIT OF MELANCHOLY
“Solitude de Pierrot” captures Charles Levier’s fascination with the archetypal Pierrot from commedia dell’arte. With angular black outlines and muted pastel tones, Levier reduces the figure to its essential gestures, creating a poignant symbol of isolation and quiet reflection. The vertical format emphasizes Pierrot’s elongated stance, while his downcast eyes and red-tipped nose heighten the painting’s emotive impact. This work was acquired directly from the artist by noted Beverly Hills designer Dean Richard Kukuk and retains its original Martin Lowitz Gallery label, underscoring both provenance and historical context.
WHY COLLECT THIS WORK?
✓ An early and expressive Charles Levier oil from circa 1950
✓ Features the Pierrot subject, connecting to the theatrical tradition of commedia dell’arte
✓ Strong provenance: Martin Lowitz Gallery, Los Angeles, and the collection of Dean Richard Kukuk, Beverly Hills
✓ Retains its original period frame in excellent condition with gallery label affixed verso
ARTWORK DETAILS:
▸ Title: [Solitude de Pierrot]
▸ Artist: Levier, Charles
▸ Medium: Oil on Canvas
▸ Creation Date: circa 1950
▸ Country of Creation: US
▸ Signed: Hand Signed Lower Right
▸ Current Condition: Excellent commensurate with age. Original period frame in great condition consistent with age.
▸ Documentation: Martin Lowitz Gallery label affixed to verso
▸ Provenance: Martin Lowitz Gallery, Los Angeles; Dean Richard Kukuk, Los Angeles
▸ Dimensions:
— ◼︎ Canvas Size: 44.25 inches x 15 inches
— ◻︎ Frame Size: 59 inches x 30 inches x 2.625 inches
INCLUDED DOCUMENTATION
✓ Certificate of Authenticity
✓ Artist Biography Document
THE ARTIST:
Charles Levier (1920–2003) was a French-American painter known for expressive oils, gouaches, and watercolors that bridge Modernism and postwar design sensibilities. His subjects include harbor towns, still lifes, café society, and commedia dell’arte figures such as Pierrot and Harlequin. Levier’s linear bite and stylized elongations have invited comparison to Bernard Buffet, while collectors of Modigliani, Rouault, and mid-century École de Paris painting...
Category
1950s Modern Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Ralph Rosenborg "Landscape: Garden of Flowers, 1973" Oil on Canvas, Signed
By Ralph Rosenborg
Located in Miami, FL
RALPH ROSENBORG – "LANDSCAPE: GARDEN OF FLOWERS, 1973"
Oil on Canvas ⚜ Signed and Dated Lower Left and on Verso ⚜ Custom Conservation Frame
A VIBRANT ABSTRACT LANDSCAPE BY AN AMERIC...
Category
1970s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
$5,200 Sale Price
35% Off
"Night Mountain Landscape, 1974" – Signed Abstract Oil by Ralph Rosenborg
By Ralph Rosenborg
Located in Miami, FL
RALPH ROSENBORG – "NIGHT MOUNTAIN LANDSCAPE, 1974"
Oil on Canvas ⚜ Signed Lower Left and on Verso ⚜ Custom Conservation Frame
A VIVID ABSTRACT VISION OF MOUNTAINOUS NIGHTSCAPE
In "N...
Category
1970s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
$5,200 Sale Price
35% Off
Ralph Rosenborg "Rock Flowers" Signed Abstract Expressionist Oil, Framed 1965
By Ralph Rosenborg
Located in Miami, FL
RALPH ROSENBORG – "ROCK FLOWERS"
Oil on Canvas ⚜ Signed & Dated Lower Left & Verso ⚜ Float Frame
A VIBRANT EXPRESSIONIST WORK FROM A TRUE AMERICAN MODERNIST
In Rock Flowers, painted...
Category
1960s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings
Materials
Oil
Charles Levier Oil Painting, Signed Midcentury Floral Still Life, Framed c. 1955
By Charles Levier
Located in Miami, FL
CHARLES LEVIER – UNTITLED [BOUQUET SUR TABLE ROUGE]
Oil on Canvas ⚜ Signed Lower Right ⚜ Custom Conservation Frame ⚜ Provenance Label on Verso
A VIBRANT MIDCENTURY FLORAL STILL LIFE...
Category
1950s Modern Still-life Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil, Other Medium
You May Also Like
Torero - Óleo sobre tela - Año 1961 - 130 cm. x 73 cm.
Located in Sant Celoni, ES
Como pueden apreciar, la obra va firmada en la parte inferior y fechada del año 1961
En la parte trasera, va con una etiqueta con los detalles de la obra
Se presenta enmarcada la p...
Category
1960s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
Alexander, Surrealist Oil Painting by Arranz-Bravo
By Eduardo Arranz-Bravo
Located in Long Island City, NY
Alexander by Eduardo Arranz-Bravo, Spanish (1941)
Date: 2006
Oil on Canvas, signed l.r.
Size: 60 x 40 in. (152.4 x 101.6 cm)
Frame: 63 x 44 in. (160.02 x 111.76 cm)
This fabulous im...
Category
Early 2000s Modern Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
Creixams Bullfighter and Bull original impressionist acrylic canvas painting
By Pere Créixams Picó
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Creixams PICÓ, Pere (Barcelona, 1893-1965).
Self - taught painter, Creixams began his career as a cabinetmaker and typographer. In 1918 he traveled to Paris and in contact with the ...
Category
Early 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Carlos Mendez Volandas II acrylic painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
sin titulo. acrylicc painting
(CARLOS MENDEZ, ARGENTINA, 1943)
Carlos Méndez is an Argentine plastic artist of great projection, based in Barcelona since the eighties. It uses a f...
Category
Early 2000s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
Senza Titolo - Oil Paint by Salvatore Travascio - 1991
Located in Roma, IT
"Senza titolo" is an oil painting on canvas mounted on a wooden frame created by the artist Salvatore Travascio in 1991.
This painting is part of a series of works in which the hum...
Category
1990s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Senza Titolo - Oil Paint by Salvatore Travascio - 1991
Located in Roma, IT
"Senza titolo" is an oil painting on canvas mounted on a wooden frame created by the artist Salvatore Travascio in 1991.
This painting is part of a series of works in which the hum...
Category
1990s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil