Landscape Paintings

The splendour of the tragic sea Francesco Guardi and maritime painting in Venetian art No Venetian painter was a stranger to the sea. After all, Venice was not only one of the most prominent ports of the Mediterranean, but indeed a city literally submerged in the ocean from time to time. Curiously however, the famous Venetian school of painting showed little interest in maritime motifs, favouring scenes from the iconic architecture of the city rather than seascapes. That is why this painting is a particularly interesting window into not only the painter Francesco Guardi himself – but to the significance of the element of water in art history, in absence as well as in the centre of attention. Whether it be calm, sunny days with stunning views of the palaces alongside the canals of Venice or – more rarely – stormy shipwrecking tragedies at sea, water as a unifying element is integral to the works of painter Francesco Guardi (1712–1793). During his lifetime, Venetian art saw many of its greatest triumphs with names like Tiepolo or Canaletto gaining international recognition and firmly establishing Venice as one of the most vibrant artistic communities of Europe. While the city itself already in the 18th century was something of an early tourist spot where aristocrats and high society visited on their grand tour or travels, the artists too contributed to the fame and their work spread the image of Venice as the city of romance and leisure to an international audience, many of whom could never visit in person. Still today, the iconic image of Venice with its whimsical array of palaces, churches and other historic buildings is much influenced by these artists, many of whom have stood the test of time like very well and remain some of the most beloved in all of art history. It was not primarily subtility, intellectual meanings or moral ideals that the Venetian art tried to capture; instead it was the sheer vibrancy of life and the fast-paced city with crumbling palaces and festive people that made this atmosphere so special. Of course, Venice could count painters in most genres among its residents, from portraiture to religious motifs, history painting and much else. Still, it is the Vedutas and views of the city that seems to have etched itself into our memory more than anything else, not least in the tradition of Canaletto who was perhaps the undisputed master of all Venetian painters. Born into his profession, Francesco lived and breathed painting all his life. His father, the painter Domenico Guardi (1678–1716) died when Francesco was just a small child, yet both he and his brothers Niccolò and Gian Antonio continued in their fathers’ footsteps. The Guardi family belonged to the nobility and originated from the mountainous area of Trentino, not far from the Alps. The brothers worked together on more challenging commissions and supported each other in the manner typical of family workshops or networks of artists. Their sister Maria Cecilia married no other than the artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo himself, linking the family to the most renowned Venetian name of the time. During almost a decade, Guardi worked in the studio of Michele Giovanni Marieschi, sometimes simply known as Michiel, a painted similar in both style and motif. Canaletto is, however, the artist Guardi is most often compared to since they shared a mutual fascination for depicting the architecture and cityscape of Venice. During the course of his career, Guardi tried his hand in many different genres. He was as swift in painting landscapes, Vedutas of Venice, sacred motifs, interiors and architectural compositions as he was in a number of other motifs. His style is typical of the Venetian school but also distinct and personal once we look a little closer. There is an absolute certainty in the composition, the choice of which sometimes feels like that of a carefully calculated photograph – yet it is also very painterly, in the best sense of the word: fluid, bold, sensitive and full of character. The brushwork is rapid, intense, seemingly careless and extraordinarily minute at the same time; fresh and planned in a very enjoyable mixture. His interiors often capture the breath-taking spacious glamour of the palaces and all their exquisite decor. He usually constructed the motif through remarkably simple, almost spontaneous yet intuitively precise strokes and shapes. The result was a festive, high-spirited atmospheric quality, far away from the sterile and exact likeness that other painters fell victim to when trying to copy Canaletto. The painting here has nothing of the city of Venice in it. On the contrary, we seem to be transported far away into the solitary ocean, with no architecture, nothing to hold on to – only the roaring sea and the dangerous cliffs upon which the ships are just moments away from being crushed upon. It is a maritime composition evoking both Flemish and Italian precursors, in the proud tradition of maritime painting that for centuries formed a crucial part of our visual culture. This genre of painting is today curiously overlooked, compared to how esteemed and meaningful it was when our relationship to the sea was far more natural than it is today. When both people and goods travelled by water, and many nations and cities – Venice among them – depended entirely on sea fare, the existential connection to the ocean was much more natural and integrated into the imagination. The schools and traditions of maritime art are as manifold as there are countries connected to the sea, and all reflect the need to process the dangers and wonders of the ocean. It could symbolize opportunity, the exciting prospects of a new countries and adventures, prospering trade, beautiful scenery as well as war and tragedy, loss of life, danger and doom. To say that water is ambivalent in nature is an understatement, and these many layers were something that artists explored in the most wondrous ways. Perhaps it takes a bit more time for the modern eye to identify the different nuances and qualities of historic maritime paintings, they may on first impression seem hard to differentiate from each other. But when allowing these motifs to unfold and tell stories of the sea in both fiction and reality – or somewhere in between – we are awarded with an understanding of how the oceans truly built our world. In Guardi’s interpretation, we see an almost theatrically arranged shipwrecking scene. No less than five ships are depicted right in the moment of utter disaster. Caught in a violent storm, the waves have driven them to a shore of sharp cliffs and if not swallowed by the waves, crushing against the cliffs seems to be the only outcome. The large wooden ships are impressively decorated with elaborate sculpture, and in fact relics already during Guardi’s lifetime. They are in fact typical of Dutch and Flemish 17th century ships, giving us a clue to where he got the inspiration from. Guardi must have seen examples of Flemish maritime art, that made him curious about these particular motifs. One is reminded of Flemish painters like Willem van de Velde and Ludolf Backhuysen, and this very painting has indeed been mistakenly attributed to Matthieu van Plattenberg...

Frameless. Carlos Sempere, although born in Valencia, settled in Asturias in 1978, eclipsed by the beauty of its natural landscape. After years of training in his youth and working...

Pocket Yellow Quince by Dani Humberstone [2022] original and hand signed by the artist Oil paint on canvas Image size: H:5 cm x W:5 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:5 cm x W:5 cm x D:3cm Frame Size: H:16 cm x W:16 cm x D:3.5cm Sold Framed Please note that insitu images are purely an indication of how a piece may look Please note that insitu images are purely an indication of how a piece may look. Pocket Yellow Quince is an original oil painting bay Dani Humberstone as part of her pocket fruit series.

“Endless Wait” captures those moments when time seems to stand still, holding us between the past and the future. The empty horizon becomes a mirror for thoughts and doubts. Are we s...

Idyllic Cottage by River with Sheep in the English Countryside by 20th Century British Artist, Jason Threlfall Art measures 14 x 10 inches Frame measures 22 x 18 inches Signed Vin...

Verdant Hills by Bernard Labbe (French mid 20th century) original oil on artist paper size: 19 x 26 inches condition: very good and ready to be enjoyed Description: This expressive ...

John Thomas Serres (1759-1825) Fisherfolk unloading the days catch Oil on canvas Canvas Size - 17 x 25 in Framed Size - 22 x 30 in John Thomas Serres, a luminary in the realm of mar...

An incredibly captivating image of a leopard basking on a rock by a river. Not only is this a very striking study of a magnificent feline but there is also a narrative here with a py...

Marine - Luigi Basile Italia 2008 - Oil on board cm. 18x24 - Luigi Basile's painting is an extraordinary work of Italian landscape painting. Basile drew inspiration from the artists of the Posillipo School and particularly from Maestro Attilio Pratella. The very small and rapid Neapolitan views...

Antique American modernist abstract painting. Watercolor, and pastel on paper. Framed. Signed. Image size, 6.5H by 10L

Contemporary Pointillism, Acrylic Paint and Metallic Leaf on Canvas, Landscape Miles Bair was born in New Castle, Pennsylvania. He studied art at Edinboro University and West Virgi...

"The Wave" Abstracted Seascape in Oil on Canvas Bold and textured abstracted seascape by Robert Frame (American, 1924-1999). This piece has a high horizon, with a thin strip of sky ...

Provence Jean La Forgue (French 1901-1975) signed watercolour, ink on paper, mounted in a card frame inscribed verso card frame: 17 x 22 inches painting: 12 x 17 inches provenance: ...

Gilbert Munger Near Bourron, France, circa 1886 Signed lower left Oil on panel 13 x 18 inches Gilbert Munger was born on April 14, 1837 in Madison, Connecticut. He showed interest ...

An oil painting on canvas by award winning contemporary artist Michael Budden that showcases the bustling life and the beautiful Brooklyn Bridge in winter. The image measures 20 x 24...

Italianate landscape garden with classical ornament, including Giambologna's Sabine women and a classical urn, view to a bay beyond Coplestone War...

Pueblo cerca del volcán Gonzalo Endara Crow, Ecuadorian (1936–1996) Date: 1991 Acrylic on Canvas Size: 31 x 39 in. (78.74 x 99.06 cm)

Josep Maria Vayreda Canadell (1932-2001) - Venice Italy - Oil canvas Oil measures 55x46 cm. Frameless. Josep Maria Vayreda Canadell Year of birth: 1932 Biography: Member of a family spanish saga of artists, which highlighted Joaquim Vayreda...

Beautiful double-sided painting of a California nocturnal seascape on one side and a Sierra mountain scene on one side on the other by William L. Hughes. Signed "W. L. Hughes" bottom...

A beautiful oil on canvas painting by the French artist, Te Pencke. Pencke was a Parisian painter known for his colorful cityscapes depicting the times of his generation. His work is...

Artist: Shapoval Ivan Leontyevich Work: Original oil painting, handmade artwork, one of a kind Medium: Oil on Canvas Style: Impressionism Year: 2011 Title: The landscape of Sumy reg...

Spring in Weimer is painted from a plein aire study from a day in Weimar, Texas. This was painted in the spring when the bluebonnets are beginning to bloom. It is common for people t...

Watercolour and gouache on paper of sailing boats at a quay side. The painting is signed bottom right but as yet undeciphered and dated 1945. Presented in a patinated wood custom fra...

Colorful and expressive abstracted seascape with thick impasto dynamically swirling together by California artist Richard Lofton (American, 1908-1966). Signed and dated "RICHARD LOFT...

Mountain Lake Oil Painting of a Loch in the Scottish Highlands by British Artist, Andrew Grant Kurtis M.A.(Lon) B.Des.(Hons) L.S.I.A.D. Art measures 24 x 18 inches Frame measures 29 x 23 inches As an artist of both classical and traditional style, Andrew Grant Kurtis excels in his paintings of...

Windermere Shadows is an Original Painting by Eleanor Woolley. This painting depicts the banks of lake Windermere, dotted with people. The grassy banks are of bright green with shado...

Impressive American impressionist winter landscape oil painting. Framed. Oil on board. Signed. Image size, 9H by 11L.

Title: French Impressionist Oil Painting of Figures at the Beach at St Lunaire By Fanch Lel (French b. 1930) Size: 4 x 6.25 inches (height x width) Signed: Yes Oil painting on cardbo...

Title: Seaside Town Medium: Oil on canvas Size: 23 x 19 inches Frame: Framing options available! Condition: The painting appears to be in excellent condition. Note: This painti...

Pacific pink by Maggie LaPorte Banks [2022] original Acrylic on canvas Image size: H:75 cm x W:102 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:75 cm x W:102 cm x D:1.5cm Sold Unframed Plea...

Vintage American modernist oil painting. Oil on canvas. Framed. No signature found.

The River Cottage by Clive Madgwick (1934–2005) signed & dated 1980's oil on canvas, framed in an elaborate swept frame framed: 18 x 23 inches canvas: 13 x 17.5 inches Provenance: pr...

Title: French Impressionistic Snowy Landscape with Cottages and Trees By Fanch Lel Signed: Yes Size: 15 x 18 inches (height x width) Oil painting on board, unframed Condition: The pa...

This vibrant and atmospheric Venetian scene by Luigi Lanza captures the timeless allure of Venice’s Grand Canal. Lanza, celebrated for his ability to render the play of light on wate...

Impressionist view of a river landscape, oil on canvas board. A charming Impressionist scene of people enjoying the delights of the riverbank. Some strolling, others enjoying a picn...

Title: French Impressionist Oil Painting of Harbor Scene with Boats and Waterfront By Fanch Lel (French b. 1930) Size: 8.75 x 10.75 inches (height x width) Signed: Yes Oil painting o...

"Les Lavandieres" French School, mid 20th century signed by the artist, M. Jantet oil on canvas, framed in original period frame framed: 29.5 x 34.5 inches canvas: 24 x 28.5 inches p...

Judd Mercer's (US based) "Under the Boughs," is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a vast meadow of yellow grass spreading into the distant bl...

Charles Henry Miller (American, 1842-1922) Untitled (After Troyon), c, 1885 Oil on canvas 9 x 12 in. Framed: 14 x 17 x 3 1/2 in. Signed lower left, inscribed verso Charles Henry Miller was a noted artist and painter of landscapes from Long Island, New York. The American poet Bayard Taylor called him, "The artistic discoverer of the little continent of Long Island." Miller was educated at Mount Washington Collegiate Institute, and graduated in medicine at the New York Homeopathic Institute in 1864. Before his graduation, he had occasionally painted pictures, and in 1860 he exhibited The Challenge Accepted at the National Academy of Design, in New York City. He lived in Queens at the summer estate, Queenslawn, originally purchased by his parents. He went abroad in 1864 and again in 1867, and was a pupil in the Bavarian Royal Academy at Munich under the instruction of Adolf Lier...

Oil on canvas. Framed. Image size, 18H x 24L.

This vibrant artwork exudes an intense harmony of colors, embodying the serene yet dynamic essence of nature. The canvas bursts with a remarkable landscape, primarily dominated by a ...

Michael Magrin's ( US based) "Bluffs West" is an original, handmade oil painting of a brilliant blue sky contrasted with a vast expanse of clouds. This ...

A sensitive landscape in oil by the artist Bernard Myers (1925-2007). Unsigned. Inscribed verso. On paper.

Summer House by Louise Alix (French, 1888-1980) *see notes below provenance stamp to the back oil painting on board, framed frame measures: 10.5 high by 14 inches wide board measure...

Artist: Vahe Yeremyan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Canvas Year: 2023 Style: Impressionism, Title: Meadow, Size: 30" x 56" x 1'' inc...

In this piece, the use of negative space highlights each individual marks character, weight and texture. The painting explores various types of mark making and application inspired b...

Roman painter (18th century) - Landscape with wayfarers. 43.5 x 34.5 cm without frame, 58.5 x 49.5 cm with frame. Antique oil painting on canvas, in a carved and gilded wooden fram...

Finely painted American impressionist seascape painting. Oil on board. Signed. Framed. Measuring 14 by 20 inches.

Artist: Ian Hornak (1944-2002) Title: Hannah’s Mirror, Rembrandt’s Three Trees Transformed Into The Expulsion From Eden Year: 1978 Medium: Acryli...

Cecile Hertz-Eyrolles (1875-1974), Oil on board. Alpine landscape in summer (Combloux). Signed lower right. Presented in an elegant gilt frame with floral and acanthus ornamentation at the corners...

Blue, Navy, calm, reflection, nature, mountains, sky. 31 x 41" oil on canvas, maple frame Inspired by the drama of nature and light, Cynthia creates abstracted landscapes with oil ...

Naples - Ettore Ferrante - Italia - Oil on canvas cm. 60x90. Gold leaf gilded wooden frame mis. est. 86x116. Ettore Ferrante is a refined and excellent view painter of the past. As ...

This charming study depicts a back street of a continental town in rich colours and bold forms. The artist has used a impasto technique in the foreground to create a contrast in text...

Oil painting on canvas by Elena Mardashova, 100x40 cm., realized in 2020. Excellent condition.

Le Jardin Jeanon Pitre (French contemporary) signed oil painting on canvas, unframed canvas: 51 x 38 inches provenance: private collection, Paris condition: overall very good

This idyllic late 19th-century oil painting by English artist Edward William Cooke RA (1811-1880) depicts a west-country cove with two cottages, donkeys, figures, and fishing boats. Cooke was a highly renowned painter of marine scenes and landscapes who exhibited extensively at London’s Royal Academy. From our elevated vantage point, the view extends between two quaint cottages and across the beach before sweeping around the sandy coastline. Crystalline waters lap the shore, where moored craft rest. It’s an accomplished rendering of a challenging composition. It’s enhanced by trees, which essentially ‘frame’ the right side, while a wooded track provides interest on the left. Cooke was a keen admirer of the Dutch old masters, and the spirit of the Golden Age underpins this splendid work. In diaries, he recorded how he travelled by donkey to access elevated spots in the southwest, so it’s conceivable that he did so here. In his catalogue raisonné, it lists a work from the same year titled ‘Bay with Donkeys’. Born in Pentonville, London, Cooke was raised in the company of accomplished artists as both his father, George Cooke (1781-1834), and his uncle, William Bernard Cooke (1778-1855), were engravers. As such, they were associated with a circle of Victorian painters who aided Cooke’s early development. These included the highly regarded marine painter Clarkson Frederick Stanfield RA RBA (1793-1867), who provided frequent advice and inspiration. Indeed, as a teenager, Cooke produced numerous drawings after Stanfield’s works. A precocious talent, by the age of nine, he was already displaying an advanced understanding of engraving, particularly for ships, coupled with a natural, seemingly in-built skill as a draughtsman. Many of his early drawings depict pastoral landscapes after the masters, such as Nicolaes Berchem (1620-1683), Paulus Potter (1625-1654), and Karel Dujardin (1626-1678). In an extraordinary turn of events, in 1820, his advanced abilities led to his first commission when he provided botanical illustrations for John Loudon's 'Encyclopaedia of Plants’. These were followed by drawings published in the 'Botanical Cabinet...

Sandy Beach Big Sur- Impressionist California Landscape A Sandy Beach - Impasto California Big Sur Landscape with Water Inlet by California artist Kathleen Murray (American, b. 1958....

Impressive early American modernist abstract sunset oil painting. Framed. Oil on canvas. Image size, 34H by 30L.

Katharina Husslein's textural and abstract paintings vividly encapsulate the vibrancy and movement found in a bouquet of flowers. This series differs from Husslein’s more controlled...

C. Andronis French River Landscape, signed and dated 1959 Oil on board Original carved French frame This luminous and expressive painting by C. Andronis captures the vibrant spirit...