| Artist | |
|---|---|
| Culture | French |
| Date | 18th century |
| Object type | painting |
| Medium, technique | oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 48 x 64 cm |
| Inventory number | 674 |
| Collection | Old Master Paintings |
| On view | This artwork is not on display |
When he returned home after twenty years in ltaly, Vernet was hailed as the worthy heir to Claude Lorrain. lndeed, he drew much upon the art of his renowned seventeenth-century predecessor. His seascapes and harbour scenes are characterised by a balanced composition and a thoughtful use of space, in contrast to the refined, decorative approach of the rococo, and he was particularly concerned with day and night lighting, and with the richness of light and atmospheric effects. ln this work, the dark semicircle of a cave opening frames the night landscape, while the silhouette of a castle ruin overlooking a mountain lake is drawn onto the sky by the moonlight and the countless shades of yellows and ash-blues. Only the distant campfires, some boats, and the figures of the fishermen add movement to the stillness of the night.
Pigler, Andor, Katalog der Galerie Alter Meister, 1-2. Museum der Bildenden Künste, Szépművészeti Múzeum, Budapest. 2, Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, 1967, p. 745.
This record is subject to revision due to ongoing research.
