Jean-Baptiste Olive.
French ( b.1848 - d.1936 ).
Le Château d''If. Frioul Archipelago Off Marseille.
Oil On Canvas.
Signed Monogram Lower Left.
Image size 27.4 inches x 19.7 inches ( 69.5cm x 50cm ).
Frame size 31.5 inches x 23.6 inches ( 80cm x 60cm ).
Available for sale from Big Sky Fine Art in the English county of Dorset, this original oil painting is by the Marseille School artist Jean-Baptiste Olive and dates from around 1910.
The painting is presented and supplied in a sympathetic contemporary replacement frame (which is shown in these photographs).
The painted surface has benefitted from cleaning, restoration and conservation, which was performed on our instruction, supervision and approval.
The canvas has been lined to provide support generally and specifically to a repair of a tear in the canvas in the upper right quarter running vertically for 5cm (2 inches). The repair area is in the stone masonry of the tower. Our restoration technique has ma
...de the repair invisible and has returned the painting to its former glory for the present day and for the future.
This antique painting is in a good condition. It wants for nothing and is supplied ready to hang and display.
The painting is signed with a monogram lower left.
Previously in the ownership of French Pharmacologist Raphael Dubois 1849 – 1929.
Jean-Baptiste Olive was a French painter celebrated for his luminous seascapes, harbour views, and Mediterranean landscapes. Born in Marseille, Olive trained at the École des Beaux-Arts under Émile Loubon and developed a lifelong passion for maritime subjects. In 1881 he moved to Paris, where he exhibited regularly at the Paris Salon.
Olive gained acclaim for his ability to depict the brilliance of light on water, blending academic precision with the freshness of Impressionism. He received prestigious decorative commissions, including work for the Palais de la Bourse in Marseille and the Petit Palais in Paris, and was awarded the Légion d’Honneur.
Travelling widely along the Mediterranean and to Venice, Olive created a prolific body of work that remains highly sought after today. His paintings are represented in major French museums and prized by collectors worldwide.
© Big Sky Fine Art
This original oil on canvas painting by French artist Jean-Baptiste Olive (1848–1936) captures the historic Château d’If, located off the coast of Marseille, France. Painted around 1910, this atmospheric seascape is signed with the artist’s monogram in the lower left corner, confirming its authenticity.
Jean-Baptiste Olive, renowned for his luminous Mediterranean views and harbour scenes, masterfully portrays the vibrant blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, small boats sailing in the distance, and a traditional vessel moored near the rocky shoreline of the island fortress. Figures in period dress stroll along the sunlit quayside, adding a sense of life and movement to the composition.
The painting highlights the Château d’If’s stone walls and fortifications, immortalised in literature by Alexandre Dumas in The Count of Monte Cristo. Olive’s expert use of light, texture, and colour captures both the historical grandeur of the fortress and the beauty of the Provençal coastline.
This is a rare opportunity to own an authentic work by Jean-Baptiste Olive, an important French painter whose works are highly sought after by collectors of maritime and Mediterranean art.
For a full biography of this artist please see his listing on www.bigskyfineart.com .
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Viewing of a painting is strictly by appointment only, which may include viewing the painting in your home or office, dependent on location. Please contact us to arrange an appointment.
Contact us by phone on +44 (0) 1305 581426 or email art@bigskyfineart.com .
Antique ID Number (AIDN): SA1168327
Dateline of this antique is 1910
Height is 80cm (31.5inches)Width is 60cm (23.6inches)Depth is 5cm (2.0inches)
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