French Or Swiss School Of The End Of The 19th Century - Flood Scene

French or Swiss school of the 19th century Oil on canvas 37 x 52 cm (47.5 x 62.5 cm with frame) This painting represents a flood scene probably in the second half of the 19th century, The view of the mountains, the type of dwelling are reminiscent of a landscape near Switzerland. Possibly it is the big flood of Chamonix with the great flood of the Arve in 1852. The scene recalls a painting representing "the flood of Chamouny of 1853" which was painted by Claude Hugard de la Tour (Chambéry Museum of Fine Arts). The painting is not signed. But the manner is reminiscent of the classic style of Second Empire landscape painters with the finesse of the light, the representation of the vegetation as well as the beautiful colors of the sky. The tumult of the overflowing water is also very well rendered and in a very fine manner. What makes this painting a beautiful post-romantic image of nature unleashed threatening man and his fragile wooden dwellings placed at the edge of the water.