Shipping in a Stormy Sea off an Italianate Coast
Painting on canvas • Attributed to Charles François Lacroix de Marseille (French, c. 1700-1782)
Style & Movement
Rococo / 18th-century Marine Painting
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas, employing fine glazing, chiaroscuro for dramatic lighting, and detailed impasto in the white crests of the waves.
Creation Period
circa 1760-1780
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 60 x 90 cm; Landscape format in a period-style gilded frame.
Subject Description
A dramatic maritime scene featuring several vessels, including a large British man-of-war, navigating turbulent waters near a rocky Mediterranean coastline. The composition includes a lighthouse, a fortified coastal tower, and figures on a quay in the foreground. Iconographically, it explores the sublime power of nature against human engineering, framed by theatrical clouds and a 'repoussoir' tree on the right.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good; the canvas appears stable but shows signs of age-appropriate craquelure and possible historical relining.
Estimated Market Value
$15,000 - $25,000 USD
Auction Estimate
$10,000 - $18,000 USD
Provenance History
Likely originated from a private European collection; the style and subject matter suggest it was commissioned for an aristocratic gallery. No specific auction stamps are visible from the front view.
Art Historical Significance
Lacroix de Marseille was a primary pupil of Joseph Vernet. This work is significant as a high-quality example of the 18th-century 'Marine' genre, capturing the era's fascination with Mediterranean seaports and the atmospheric effects of storms.
Notable Features
The presence of the Red Ensign on the primary ship suggests a specific narrative or English patronage. The use of dramatic backlighting (contre-jour) in the clouds is a hallmark of Lacroix de Marseille’s technique.
Condition Issues
Visible surface craquelure throughout the sky area; slight yellowing of the varnish; minor abrasions along the frame edges; potential old restorations in the dark passages of the water.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional surface cleaning and varnish thinning recommended to improve color saturation; maintain in a climate-controlled environment with UV-filtered lighting; check frame tension.
Collector Notes
in a Stormy Sea off an Italianate Coast Attributed to Charles François Lacroix de Marseille (French,