Ship at Sunset off Cape Martin
by Eric Glaser
Title
Ship at Sunset off Cape Martin
Artist
Eric Glaser
Medium
Painting - Oil On Canvas
Description
"Ship at Sunset off Cape Martin"
Note: The original painting most recently sold for 1,191,000 GBP on 4 June 2019 at Sotheby's in London.
Artist: Ivan Aivazovsky (Russian-Armenian, 1817-1900)
Title: Ship at Sunset Off Cape Martin
Object Type: Painting
Genre: Marine Art
Date: 1859
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Collection: Private Collection
Dimensions: 61.5 by 90.5cm, 24¼ by 35¾in.
Inscriptions: signed in Cyrillic and dated 1859 l.r.
Provenance:
Private collection, Czech Republic, acquired in Moscow in the early 20th century
Catalogue Note:
As Gianni Caffiero and Ivan Samarine note, ‘the transparency and sense of depth Aivazovsky achieves in the depiction of his waves is one of the painter’s most distinguishing features’ (Seas, Cities and Dreams, 2000, p.109). The rendering of the choppy sea at sunset off the Mediterranean coast in the present work is particularly successful and showcases Aivazovsky’s talent at its best. The artist is known equally for his radiant skies and his ability to depict the reflections of the setting sun on the waves, two elements which are also beautifully executed here.
Paintings from the 1850s are particularly sought-after by collectors today and rarely appear on the market. By this point in his career Aivazovsky had established himself as the foremost seascapist of his generation and was honoured with titles and awards not only in Russia, but also abroad – in 1858, the year before he painted this work, he was the first-ever Russian artist to receive the Légion d’Honneur. The ship, the figures in the boat, and the built-up coastline with what appears to be a busy port in the background show a level of detail which his later works often lack. Offered at auction for the first time, the appearance of Ship at Sunset off Cap Martin offers collectors the opportunity to acquire a painting which shows all the hallmarks of Aivazovsky’s very best works.
Biography:
Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky (Russian: ; 29 July 1817 – 2 May 1900) was a Russian Romantic painter who is considered one of the greatest masters of marine art. Baptized as Hovhannes Aivazian, he was born into an Armenian family in the Black Sea port of Feodosia in Crimea and was mostly based there. Following his education at the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg, Aivazovsky traveled to Europe and lived briefly in Italy in the early 1840s. He then returned to Russia and was appointed the main painter of the Russian Navy. Aivazovsky had close ties with the military and political elite of the Russian Empire and often attended military maneuvers. He was sponsored by the state and was well-regarded during his lifetime.
The saying "worthy of Aivazovsky's brush," popularized by Anton Chekhov, was used in Russia for describing something lovely. He remains highly popular in Russia. One of the most prominent Russian artists of his time, Aivazovsky was also popular outside Russia. He held numerous solo exhibitions in Europe and the United States. During his almost 60-year career, he created around 6,000 paintings, making him one of the most prolific artists of his time. The vast majority of his works are seascapes, but he often depicted battle scenes, Armenian themes, and portraiture. Most of Aivazovskys works are kept in Russian, Ukrainian and Armenian museums as well as private collections.
Text Credit: Sotheby's
Image Credit: Sotheby's
Additional image editing by Eric Glaser
Uploaded
April 15th, 2020
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