The port of Lorient according to Nicolas Ozanne around 1780

Very beautiful oil on canvas depicting the port of Lorient * seen from the quay of the masting machine from the drawing by the marine engineer Nicolas-Marie Ozanne *, made in 1776 to complete the series “views of the ports of France ”commissioned by King Louis XV from the painter Joseph Vernet (1714-1789) and completed by order of King Louis XVI.
Nicolas Ozanne's work will be engraved by Yves-Marie Le Gouaz (1742-1816) the same year.
Our canvas represents a very beautiful view of the port at sunset, with in the foreground a quay watched by an armed royal guard and a crowd of onlookers in court clothes observing the operations of the shipyard.
On a calm and slightly rippled sea, we can see several large ships at anchor in the harbor, they are painted with meticulousness and many details are observable, such as the number of bridges (two or three), masts, cannon mouths or sails ...
Smoke fumes and the redness of the fire draw the curiosity of spectators to the caulking operations of a large ship in the distance and a rowboat located at the edge of the quay.
In the background, a vessel flying the French flag is nearing completion, a small mast machine is laying the foremast or mizzen mast while in a few days the large machine at the end of the quay will come into action to install the mainmast.
In the background one can appreciate the vastness of the warehouses and warehouses of the East India Company which are dominated by the great discovery tower.
Erected in 1734 on Faouëdic hill, this 36-meter building served as a watchtower and not a lighthouse and allowed watchmen to scan the sea from Belle-île to Glénan, thus monitoring any possible English incursions and any act piracy on Company ships.
Destroyed by lightning on several occasions, it will be one of the first monuments in Europe to be equipped with Benjamin Franklin's lightning rod.


Oil on canvas (rentoilée), gilt wood frame Italy 19th.

Very good state of conservation.

French school around 1780.

Dimensions:

Frame: Height: 55 cm; Width: 71 cm
Canvas: Height: 43.5 cm; Width: 59 cm