Jean-Baptiste Olive Art

Jean Baptiste Olive (French, 1848 - 1936) A figure on the beach Oil on canvas Signed 'B. Olive' lower right Measurements in frame: 19 x 22.75 in. This stunning impressionist painting by Jean Baptiste Olive highlights the mediterranean light bleaching the white sands and the azure sea or the South of France. The little figure is captured as a dab of colour against the coastal rock jutting out or the sand. The light blue of the sky is cleverly reflected in the blue / grey shadows of the cliffs and rocks juxtaposing the yellows, reds and whites of the sand and clouds. This painting gets only better and better close up as the impressionist palette and composition comes alive to the eye. We cannot commend this painting and this artist more highly and we are always on the hunt for more of Olive's works. The son of a wine merchant born in Marseille, Olive was encouraged to study at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in the same town under the guidance of Joanny Rave. After achieving first prize in 1871 as a student for live model drawing he painted many scenes of Marseilles and the surrounding sea shore. He took on many commissions particularly in Paris to decorate frescoes notably Cirque d'Hiver and Basilica of the Sacre Coeur. He exhibited repeatedly at the salon. Today 2 paintings created for the golden room at Le Train Bleu...