Sant Jordi (Saint George) is one of the most beloved and visually poetic traditions in Catalonia. For those unfamiliar with it, the celebration is rooted in the legend of Saint George and the dragon: a brave knight rescues a princess who was to be sacrificed to a fearsome dragon. Upon slaying the beast, a single red rose is said to have bloomed from the dragon’s spilled blood.
This tale gave rise to a beautiful tradition in Catalonia: on April 23rd, known elsewhere as World Book Day, locals exchange roses and books with lovers, friends and family. The streets of Barcelona burst into life with flower stalls, book stands and long queues of readers waiting to meet their favorite authors. The entire city becomes a vibrant tribute to love, literature and beauty.
To mark this very special day in our home city, we’ve selected 3 artworks from our collection that evoke the spirit of Sant Jordi.
Portrait of a Lady with a Rose - In the Style of Manet
This delicate painting, now available at Modern Decorative, invites us into an intimate moment of reflection. A young woman, lost in thought, leans against a surface, her hand resting gently near her cheek — and between her gloved fingers, a single rose. Like the iconic Sant Jordi rose, hers speaks without words.
In Catalan culture, the rose is not just a gift. It’s a gesture of affection, a symbol of connection — sometimes romantic, sometimes nostalgic, sometimes bittersweet. And here, in this quiet portrait, we sense that same range of emotions. Inspired by Manet’s Plum Brandy, this artwork echoes a time when portraits captured not just faces, but entire inner worlds.
The soft, muted palette, the slightly downcast eyes, the brushwork that seems to hum with stillness — all of it gives this painting a subtle, poetic charm. There is beauty in her quietude, in the way her presence hints at a story not told but felt.
Rosendo Gonzalez Carbonell - Still Life with Roses
If there's one gesture that never goes out of style—on Sant Jordi or any other day—it’s gifting a bouquet of roses. But what if that bouquet could last forever?
Catalan painter Rosendo González Carbonell (1910–1984) offers exactly that with his delicate Still Life with Roses, a tender and timeless composition. Trained at the Escola de Belles Arts in Barcelona, González Carbonell became known for his refined sensitivity and luminous palette, carving out a place within 20th-century Catalan painting that balanced classic technique with quiet emotional depth.
In this piece, a simple vase holds a handful of roses in varying shades, arranged with casual elegance. The soft lighting bathes the petals in warmth, while the tones—reds, whites, and soft pinks—speak of love and the serene beauty of everyday life.
Roses by Josep FERRE REVASCALL
Sometimes, the most powerful gestures are the simplest. In the still life painting of Josep Ferré Revascall, two roses are all it takes to speak volumes.
Ferré Revascall (b. 1923) was a Catalan painter known for his subtle compositions and almost meditative restraint. A master of intimate detail, his work invites quiet observation, and in these two pieces, his flowers don’t shout; they whisper.
In Yellow Roses, we find two blossoms rendered with luminous softness. In the language of flowers, yellow roses often symbolize friendship, joy and new beginnings—but also, in certain traditions, a more complex mix of remembrance and distance. It’s an image that feels open and contemplative.
In Study of a Rose, Ferré Revascall turns his attention to two deep red roses—symbols of love, passion and devotion. But in his hands, even these dramatic flowers feel calm, tender, restrained. The message is clear, but never loud.
There’s something profoundly pure in these works. No elaborate compositions, no clutter—just a soft focus on what matters most. A pair of flowers. A beam of light. A moment that lingers.