Deborah Cliffe
Senior Sale Coordinator
Lot 9
Félix François Georges Philibert Ziem(French, 1821-1911)Le bassin de Saint Marc
31 March 2021, 14:00 BST
London, New Bond Street£40,000 - £60,000
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Félix François Georges Philibert Ziem (French, 1821-1911)
Le bassin de Saint Marc
signed 'Ziem' (lower right)
oil on canvas
83.3 x 136.5cm (32 13/16 x 53 3/4in).
Painted circa 1870-1875
signed 'Ziem' (lower right)
oil on canvas
83.3 x 136.5cm (32 13/16 x 53 3/4in).
Painted circa 1870-1875
Footnotes
Provenance
Private collection, Italy.
Celebrated for his sparkling views of Venice, Ziem who was one of the most widely travelled artists of his generation, made the first of numerous trips to Italy in 1842. As a young man he had studied architecture, but by 1840 he had decided his passion was painting, both in oil and watercolour. A meticulous book-keeper, we have a fascinating insight into his business as a professional artist, as he kept records of his sales (year, name of purchaser and selling price) for over thirty years. He enjoyed huge success, counting Baron de Rothschild and The Duke of Devonshire amongst his patrons.
In this large canvas, the artist depicts a busy day on the Venetian Lagoon. Ziem is able to capture the effect of the flickering patterns of light on the water through vibrant brush strokes and a lively palette as a group of figures, possibly Arab traders, are being rowed across the water in a gondola, past a large masted boat at anchor, with a panoramic view of Venice beyond.
We are grateful to The Association Félix Ziem, represented by Mathias Ary Jan, David Pluskwa and Gérard Fabre, for confirming the authenticity of this lot. A certificate is available upon request.
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