Masterpiece: King's College Cambridge, the Backs, Circa 1920, by Jacques Emile Blanche Oil on Canvas

1900 - 1920

Sold by Skippings Fine Arts

Description

An atmospheric view of King's College, Cambridge, by Jacques Emile Blanche, the most anglophile of the French artists.

Blanche grew up in a cultured home, and became a well-known figure in artistic and society circles—he was a friend of Degas, Renoir, Whistler, and Henry James. One of his closest friends was Marcel Proust.

Among the painter's most famous works are portraits of Proust (private collection, Paris), the Thaulow family (Musée d'Orsay, Paris), and Aubrey Beardsley (National Portrait Gallery, London). Blanche also painted portraits of James Joyce, Edgar Degas, Claude Debussy, Auguste Rodin, Thomas Hardy and John Singer Sargent.

Blanche worked in London, where he spent time from 1870 on, as well as Paris, where he exhibited at the Salon and the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts.

His paintings are in the National Portrait Gallery, the Tate, the Government Art Collection, the Museum of London, York Art Gallery, New College Oxford, Worcester College, Oxford, University College, Oxford, Manchester Art Gallery, The National Trust, the Royal Pavilion and Museum Trust and in numerous other museums in Britain.

The oil on canvas which I am proud to present here dates from circa 1920. It shows the Backs, a picturesque area to the east of Queen's Road in the city of Cambridge, where several colleges of the University of Cambridge back on to the River Cam, their grounds covering both banks of the river. Anecdotally, National Trust chairman Simon Jenkins has rated the view of The Backs and King's College as one of the top ten in England

Our painting features in the Catalogue Raisonné of the artist by Jane Roberts and Muriel Molines under the number RM1177. Measuring 38 x 46 cm, it is monogrammed and situated "King's College" at the lower right. The overall size in an elegant frame is 57 x 64 cm.

Physical Dimensions

Height

38cm (14.96")

Width

46cm (18.11")

Depth

1cm (0.39")

Declaration

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

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA878375

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

An atmospheric view of King's College, Cambridge, by Jacques Emile Blanche, the most anglophile of the French artists.

“

Blanche grew up in a cultured home, and became a well-known figure in artistic and society circles—he was a friend of Degas, Renoir, Whistler, and Henry James.

Skippings Fine Arts

One of his closest friends was Marcel Proust.

fig 1. Masterpiece: King's College Cambridge, The Backs, circa 1920, by Jacques Emile Blanche oil on canvas — fig 1. Masterpiece: King's College Cambridge, the Backs, Circa 1920, by Jacques Emile Blanche Oil on Canvas

Among the painter's most famous works are portraits of Proust (private collection, Paris), the Thaulow family (Musée d'Orsay, Paris), and Aubrey Beardsley (National Portrait Gallery, London). Blanche also painted portraits of James Joyce, Edgar Degas, Claude Debussy, Auguste Rodin, Thomas Hardy and John Singer Sargent.

fig 2. Masterpiece: King's College Cambridge, The Backs, circa 1920, by Jacques Emile Blanche oil on canvas — fig 2. Masterpiece: King's College Cambridge, the Backs, Circa 1920, by Jacques Emile Blanche Oil on Canvas

Blanche worked in London, where he spent time from 1870 on, as well as Paris, where he exhibited at the Salon and the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts.

His paintings are in the National Portrait Gallery, the Tate, the Government Art Collection, the Museum of London, York Art Gallery, New College Oxford, Worcester College, Oxford, University College, Oxford, Manchester Art Gallery, The National Trust, the Royal Pavilion and Museum Trust and in numerous other museums in Britain.

fig 3. Masterpiece: King's College Cambridge, The Backs, circa 1920, by Jacques Emile Blanche oil on canvas — fig 3. Masterpiece: King's College Cambridge, the Backs, Circa 1920, by Jacques Emile Blanche Oil on Canvas

The oil on canvas which I am proud to present here dates from circa 1920. It shows the Backs, a picturesque area to the east of Queen's Road in the city of Cambridge, where several colleges of the University of Cambridge back on to the River Cam, their grounds covering both banks of the river. Anecdotally, National Trust chairman Simon Jenkins has rated the view of The Backs and King's College as one of the top ten in England

fig 4. Masterpiece: King's College Cambridge, The Backs, circa 1920, by Jacques Emile Blanche oil on canvas — fig 4. Masterpiece: King's College Cambridge, the Backs, Circa 1920, by Jacques Emile Blanche Oil on Canvas

Our painting features in the Catalogue Raisonné of the artist by Jane Roberts and Muriel Molines under the number RM1177. Measuring 38 x 46 cm, it is monogrammed and situated "King's College" at the lower right. The overall size in an elegant frame is 57 x 64 cm.