Offered by Michel Lardanchet Antiquités
REQUEST INFORMATION
Close to Joseph Vernet in Rome in the 1750s, Lacroix de Marseille returned to France around 1776, where he achieved great success with his numerous seascapes bathed in soft southern light, very similar to the works of his contemporary. He used recurring elements in his compositions, often imaginary. Charles-François Lacroix de Marseille distinguished himself in the 18th century through his seascapes, inspired by the work of his master, Claude Joseph Vernet. From this brilliant artist, seascapes remain today, depicting figures illuminated by the soft glow of dawn or the reddish hues of sunset. The deliberately lowered horizon line invites the eye to journey out to sea from the shore, enlivened by fishermen near a port at sunset. The artist portrays a group of figures busy at the water's edge, unloading the fruits of their successful fishing onto the bank. Alongside them are a group of figures returning to the village after a day's fishing. This fishing scene, whose location remains uncertain but which can be compared to other compositions by the artist, falls within the tradition of landscapes painted during the Grand Tour, relying solely on his imagination. A fortified city and steep cliffs complete a dense composition, where the sky occupies half the space. Lacroix de Marseille paid particular attention to the representation of atmospheric effects, depicting skies tinged with mist or illuminated by the emergence of a ray of the setting sun. Here, pink and bluish clouds accompany the soft light of the sunset, lending a romantic air to the whole. Oil on copper. Dimensions: with frame, width 50 cm, height 40 cm; without frame, width 38 cm, height 28 cm.
