Cargo Port at Night, Large French Abstracted Harbour Scene Oil on Canvas by Bonnard's Great Nephew Michel Terrasse

1940 - 1960

Sold by Skippings Fine Arts

Description

A striking large modernist painting depicting a cargo port at night by Michel Terrasse (1928-2002). It is a scene which combines many things the artist held dear, and explored in his career: water, the night, and a life long fascination with cargo ports, ships and boats.

Michel Terrasse had art running in his veins: he was the great nephew of Pierre Bonnard (!), grandson of composer Claude Terrasse, and twin brother of art historian Antoine Terrasse. Michel himself wrote an important monograph on Pierre Bonnard's work.

With a first solo show of his paintings being held at the age of 15, Michel Terrasse's talent was precocious. Working as a stage designer as well as an artist, he became the youngest ever costume and set designer for the Paris opera house. His paintings were exhibited in one man shows at the mythical Galerie Bernheim-Jeune in Paris, with Wildenstein in London and New York, at the Musée de l'Athenée in Geneva, as well as in San Francisco and Tokyo.

Michel Terasse's paintings are the fruit of of months - even years - of research and experimentation.

On the back of the canvas and on the stretcher, the Michel Terrasse recorded the different sessions during which he worked on a painting, a habit that was particular to him.

Hence, we find dates, December 68, May 69, May 70, as well as notes of different versions (VR, V2) in the verso.

Considerable thought and attention went into this unusual, expertly painted work of art, and it shows.

Measuring 60 x 92cm, our oil on canvas is monogrammed MT at the lower right, and presented in its original artist's strip frame.

Physical Dimensions

Height

60cm (23.62")

Width

92cm (36.22")

Depth

1cm (0.39")

Declaration

Skippings Fine Arts has dated this piece to the 1960s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA658179

Dealers Notes

Nous parlons français, und wir sprechen auch Deutsch! Paintings may be viewed in Norwich and in Paris, as well as in London and Cambridge by appointment. Please contact us if you would like further details and images of an artwork.

Description

A striking large modernist painting depicting a cargo port at night by Michel Terrasse (1928-2002).

“

It is a scene which combines many things the artist held dear, and explored in his career: water, the night, and a life long fascination with cargo ports, ships and boats.

Skippings Fine Arts

fig 1. Cargo port at night, large French abstracted harbour scene oil on canvas by Bonnard's great nephew Michel Terrasse — fig 1. Cargo Port at Night, Large French Abstracted Harbour Scene Oil on Canvas by Bonnard's Great Nephew Michel Terrasse

Michel Terrasse had art running in his veins: he was the great nephew of Pierre Bonnard (!), grandson of composer Claude Terrasse, and twin brother of art historian Antoine Terrasse. Michel himself wrote an important monograph on Pierre Bonnard's work.

fig 2. Cargo port at night, large French abstracted harbour scene oil on canvas by Bonnard's great nephew Michel Terrasse — fig 2. Cargo Port at Night, Large French Abstracted Harbour Scene Oil on Canvas by Bonnard's Great Nephew Michel Terrasse

With a first solo show of his paintings being held at the age of 15, Michel Terrasse's talent was precocious. Working as a stage designer as well as an artist, he became the youngest ever costume and set designer for the Paris opera house. His paintings were exhibited in one man shows at the mythical Galerie Bernheim-Jeune in Paris, with Wildenstein in London and New York, at the Musée de l'Athenée in Geneva, as well as in San Francisco and Tokyo.

fig 3. Cargo port at night, large French abstracted harbour scene oil on canvas by Bonnard's great nephew Michel Terrasse — fig 3. Cargo Port at Night, Large French Abstracted Harbour Scene Oil on Canvas by Bonnard's Great Nephew Michel Terrasse

Michel Terasse's paintings are the fruit of of months - even years - of research and experimentation.

On the back of the canvas and on the stretcher, the Michel Terrasse recorded the different sessions during which he worked on a painting, a habit that was particular to him.