Passing Storm (L'Orage qui passe)
Painting on canvas • James Tissot (French, 1836–1902)
Style & Movement
Realism / Japonisme influence, associated with the high-society genre painting of the Victorian and Belle Époque eras.
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas, utilizing academic realism with subtle glazes and fine brushwork to render textiles and light filtration through the awning.
Creation Period
Circa 1876
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 76 x 46 cm; vertical portrait format.
Subject Description
The painting depicts a young couple in a tense or contemplative moment on a terrace. A woman in a highly detailed Victorian cream-colored dress with a bustle stands with hands clasped to her chin, while a gentleman in a dark suit stands behind her in the doorway. The composition explores themes of romantic tension, domesticity, and the transition of weather as a metaphor for mood, framed by a French window overlooking a lush garden.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Very Good; the surface appears stable with well-preserved pigments, though minor age-related craquelure is visible under close inspection.
Estimated Market Value
$1,500,000 - $2,500,000 USD
Auction Estimate
$1,200,000 - $1,800,000 USD
Provenance History
Formerly in the collection of the artist; private collections in the UK and USA; notably part of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery collection or high-profile estate sales.
Art Historical Significance
Tissot is a key figure in documenting the social nuances and fashions of late 19th-century London and Paris. This work is significant for its psychological depth and mastery of 'modern life' painting, bridging the gap between conservative academicism and the atmospheric interests of the Impressionists.
Notable Features
Exquisite rendering of the buttons and fringe on the woman's dress; the use of 'frames within frames' (doorway and windows) to create depth; the signature 'J. Tissot' typically located in the lower right corner (though cropped or faint in many reproductions).
Condition Issues
Slight yellowing of the varnish layer; minor edge wear from framing; faint fine line craquelure consistent with 19th-century oil on canvas.
Conservation Recommendations
Surface cleaning by a professional conservator to remove aged varnish; maintain in a climate-controlled environment with UV-filtered lighting; use of a museum-quality protective frame.