Harbour in Provence, the South of France: Mediterranean Cote D'azure Seascape Oil Painting Circa 1925

1900 - 1920

Sold by Skippings Fine Arts

Description

A wonderfully luminous painting by Jean Julian (1888-1974), a master colourist from the South of France.

Originally from Marseilles, Jean Julien studied with Fernand Cormon at the National School of Fine Arts in Paris but kept the Mediterranean firmly in his heart. He was friends with writer Marcel Pagnol and actor Fernandel who were both also from Marseille, and a member of the Association des Marseillais de Paris.

Guy Dornand, the art historian who was a specialist of the works of Picasso and Maurice Utrillo, called Jean Julien "the ambassador of Provence in Paris" and famously wrote "listen, yes, listen to his paintings: you will hear the chirping of crickets"

Writer Francoise de Perthuis noted :

"It is with good reason that an important gallery on the left bank titled the exhibition of Julien's works "Coup de soleil" : Marseillais by origin, Julien has full sun his palette. "

Works by the artist are in museums of Marseilles, Arles, Paris and in numerous city halls in the South of France.

Jean Julien had a notable one man show titled "La Provence" at the Galerie Georges Petit in 1927.

He exhibited at the Salon of French artists in Paris, obtaining a silver medal in 1921 and gold medal in 1928. The oil on canvas presented here dates from this very period, the 1920s, and depicts Villefranche-sur-Mer, a seaside town not far from Monaco, near the French Italian border. It shows its brightly painted houses seen from a boat in the harbour.

The work appears unsigned to the recto (although there is possibly a trace of signature to the lower right. It is signed or annotated on the verso. While there is stable craquelure as visible in the photos, the painting has been cleaned and restored and is eminently presentable.

Measuring 70 x 50 cm, the overall framed size is 83 x 59.5 cm

Physical Dimensions

Height

70cm (27.56")

Width

50cm (19.69")

Depth

1cm (0.39")

Declaration

Skippings Fine Arts has dated this piece to the 1920s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA841325

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 wonderfully luminous painting by Jean Julian (1888-1974), a master colourist from the South of France.

“

Originally from Marseilles, Jean Julien studied with Fernand Cormon at the National School of Fine Arts in Paris but kept the Mediterranean firmly in his heart.

Skippings Fine Arts

He was friends with writer Marcel Pagnol and actor Fernandel who were both also from Marseille, and a member of the Association des Marseillais de Paris.

fig 1. Harbour in Provence, the South of France: Mediterranean Cote d'Azure seascape oil painting circa 1925 — fig 1. Harbour in Provence, the South of France: Mediterranean Cote D'azure Seascape Oil Painting Circa 1925

Guy Dornand, the art historian who was a specialist of the works of Picasso and Maurice Utrillo, called Jean Julien "the ambassador of Provence in Paris" and famously wrote "listen, yes, listen to his paintings: you will hear the chirping of crickets"

fig 2. Harbour in Provence, the South of France: Mediterranean Cote d'Azure seascape oil painting circa 1925 — fig 2. Harbour in Provence, the South of France: Mediterranean Cote D'azure Seascape Oil Painting Circa 1925

Writer Francoise de Perthuis noted :

"It is with good reason that an important gallery on the left bank titled the exhibition of Julien's works "Coup de soleil" : Marseillais by origin, Julien has full sun his palette. "

fig 3. Harbour in Provence, the South of France: Mediterranean Cote d'Azure seascape oil painting circa 1925 — fig 3. Harbour in Provence, the South of France: Mediterranean Cote D'azure Seascape Oil Painting Circa 1925

Works by the artist are in museums of Marseilles, Arles, Paris and in numerous city halls in the South of France.

Jean Julien had a notable one man show titled "La Provence" at the Galerie Georges Petit in 1927.

fig 4. Harbour in Provence, the South of France: Mediterranean Cote d'Azure seascape oil painting circa 1925 — fig 4. Harbour in Provence, the South of France: Mediterranean Cote D'azure Seascape Oil Painting Circa 1925

He exhibited at the Salon of French artists in Paris, obtaining a silver medal in 1921 and gold medal in 1928. The oil on canvas presented here dates from this very period, the 1920s, and depicts Villefranche-sur-Mer, a seaside town not far from Monaco, near the French Italian border. It shows its brightly painted houses seen from a boat in the harbour.

fig 5. Harbour in Provence, the South of France: Mediterranean Cote d'Azure seascape oil painting circa 1925 — fig 5. Harbour in Provence, the South of France: Mediterranean Cote D'azure Seascape Oil Painting Circa 1925

The work appears unsigned to the recto (although there is possibly a trace of signature to the lower right. It is signed or annotated on the verso. While there is stable craquelure as visible in the photos, the painting has been cleaned and restored and is eminently presentable.

Measuring 70 x 50 cm, the overall framed size is 83 x 59.5 cm