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Charles Leduc
Bastille Day Commemorations In Port French Original 1880s Naval Oil Painting

$5,374.45
£3,895
€4,578.21
CA$7,309.62
A$8,190.39
CHF 4,263.41
MX$100,196.84
NOK 54,116.10
SEK 51,112.01
DKK 34,177.30
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About the Item

Charles Leduc. French ( b.1831 – d.1911 ). Bastille Day In Port. Oil On Canvas. Signed Lower Left. Image size 15.9 inches x 27.6 inches ( 40.5cm x 70cm ). Frame size 21.5 inches x 33.3 inches ( 54.5cm x 84.5cm ). Available for sale; this original oil painting is by the French naval and marine artist Charles Leduc and dates from the 1880s. The canvas has had five small holes repaired whilst in previous ownership. We have had these repairs stabilised on our instruction, supervision and approval. The repairs are invisible when closely viewed from the front of the painting. The painted surface has benefitted further from cleaning, restoration and conservation. The painting is presented and supplied in a contemporary replacement frame that has been aesthetically aged to compliment the painting. This antique painting is now in good decorative condition. It wants for nothing and is supplied ready to hang and display. The painting is signed lower left. Charles Leduc was a 19th-century French painter, printmaker and lithographer celebrated for his evocative maritime scenes and detailed depictions of naval life. Born in Nantes in 1831, Leduc came of age during a period of immense industrial and artistic change in France. His work reflects a deep appreciation for the sea, often portraying bustling harbours, grand sailing ships, and ceremonial naval events with remarkable precision and atmospheric flair. Charles was born into a family of merchants from Nantes. His grandfather, who was from Arnay-le-Duc, had changed his name from Girard to Leduc, so as not to be confused with a namesake he did not like during his military service. Charles was therefore a third generation Leduc! Charles began his working life as a clerk for an uncle who ran a fertilizer company in Nantes. Relations became strained however after he threw an inkwell at his uncle’s head, and he was obliged to leave! He boarded the first boat leaving the port and duly became a sailor. This led to four years’ military service in the navy, all of which equipped him with an expert knowledge of the sea and ships. This was apparent when he started to draw what he saw around him, and his interest in art and design grew to be all consuming. After completing his military service, he became a student of Charles Le Roux in Paris, a former student of Corot. He then established his studio in Nantes, at 30 rue de la Fosse, together with his brother Alfred Leduc, who was also a painter and student of Henri Lehmann. Charles Leduc went on the become a student of the painter Louis Français. From his base in Nantes Charles Leduc began to paint the merchant ships that frequented the port at the request of the ship owners. He became one of the famous ‘Pierhead Painters’, who toured and worked in the largest commercial ports in America and Europe in the 19th century. He also depicted pleasure boats. Leduc produced a series of classic lithographs devoted to ocean liners and the war fleet, which were published mainly between 1867 and 1893. The precision of his drawings and the technical notes he included make him an important contributor to the history of the navy at the end of the 19th century. His charcoal drawings and oil paintings sealed his reputation as a respected marine artist. Most of his work in centered on the ports of Nantes, Le Croisic, Saint-Nazaire, Pornic and the Loire Estuary. Charles and his brother Alfred took on Maxime Maufra as a student, passing on their talent and experience. Charles was also technically proficient and worked as model maker, mechanic and naval architect. He was also a correspondent for the newspaper Le Yacht since its founding, as well as for Monde Ilustre. In 1854, Charles Leduc was decorated for saving a brig cabin boy from drowning. The diploma presented to him lists his eleven previous rescues, demonstrating that he was someone who made a very real contribution to the life of those working in the French ports. He signed his works Ch. Leduc or Ch. with an anchor, which was his prerogative as an official artist for the French navy. During his lifetime Leduc exhibited his works in various regional salons and was well-regarded among collectors of marine art. His subjects often included historical naval events, fleet reviews, and everyday port scenes, capturing the transition from sail to steam with a documentary-like clarity. These qualities have made his paintings increasingly sought after by collectors of 19th-century maritime art. Charles Leduc died in Nantes on October 23rd, 1911. He leaves behind an important body of work that services as a valuable visual record of France’s maritime heritage during a pivotal era. There are nearly 100 of his lithographs listed in the Department of Prints and Photographs of the National Library of France. His original works are in the permanent collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Nantes, the Musée de Salorges, Nantes, and the National Naval Museum in Paris. © Big Sky Fine Art Celebrate French maritime history with this evocative original oil on canvas painting, Bastille Day in Port, by acclaimed 19th-century French artist Charles Leduc. The painting is signed by the artist in the lower left section, confirming its provenance. Known for his detailed seascapes and naval scenes, Leduc captures the vibrant atmosphere of a French port celebrating Bastille Day, France’s national holiday. The painting features a dynamic harbour scene filled with 19th-century sailing ships, steamships, and boats bustling with people, set against a sky tinted with celebration smoke and fluttering tricolour flags. The composition is rich in historical detail, showcasing French naval pride and the spirit of national unity. This artwork exemplifies Leduc’s ability to blend atmospheric light with maritime precision, making it a standout example of French maritime art from the 1800s. Perfect for collectors of nautical art, 19th-century French paintings, or Bastille Day commemorative memorabilia, this important oil painting embodies both artistic excellence and cultural heritage.
  • Creator:
    Charles Leduc (1831 - 1911, French)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 21.46 in (54.5 cm)Width: 33.27 in (84.5 cm)Depth: 1.97 in (5 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    The canvas has had five small holes repaired whilst in previous ownership. We have had these repairs stabilised on our instruction, supervision and approval. The repairs are invisible when closely viewed from the front of the painting.
  • Gallery Location:
    Sutton Poyntz, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU489316435962

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