Antoine Ponthus-cinier (1812-1885), The Rock Seen From The Beach Of Capri (faraglioni)

Oil on canvas. 65 x 81 cm. Signed lower left. With frame.

This painting depicts a coastal scene bathed in Mediterranean light, characteristic of the island of Capri. In the foreground, fishermen's boats rest on the beach, while a sailboat with unfurled sails gently floats near the shore. To the right, a few white houses with typical arches reflect the local architecture, nestled against the steep cliff that dominates the landscape. In the background, the famous rock of Capri can be seen, likely one of the Faraglioni — natural landmarks of the island — rising majestically above the sea.

Ponthus-Cinier, a landscape painter influenced by Neoclassicism and Romanticism, masterfully captured the serene and luminous atmosphere of Capri, while integrating human presence through the boats and houses, evoking everyday island life. The composition highlights the harmony between nature and human activity, with a vast, luminous sky occupying much of the canvas, reinforcing the impression of space and tranquility. The subtle treatment of light, the softness of the colors, and the finesse of the drawing reveal the artist’s technical mastery, as an heir to the Italian and French landscape traditions. This painting thus belongs to the artistic lineage of representations of Capri, celebrating the timeless beauty of its landscapes and the poetry of its shores.

Enrolled at the École des Beaux-Arts de Lyon in 1829,Antoine Ponthus-Cinier does not appear to have attended. Trained by Paul Delaroche, he won second prize in the Grand Prix de Rome in 1841 with Adam and Eve Driven from the Earthly Paradise. He spent two years in Italy, then returned to Lyon, exhibiting there from 1837 to 1885 and in Paris from 1841 to 1867, showing historical landscapes and landscapes (paintings, Indian ink, gouaches, watercolors, etchings). He traveled extensively in the Dauphiné, Dombes, Provence, the Alps, Savoy, and the Pyrenees, practicing Italianate Neoclassical landscape, animated with small figures. He was well known in Lyon and received many commissions. By will, he left the city of Lyon 50 washes, drawings, and an annuity of 1,000 francs for a prize in his name (annual “Decorative Landscape” competition) awarded by the École des Beaux-Arts de Lyon. His studio was sold in Lyon in March 1885. Today, the museums of Lyon, Chantilly, Chalon-sur-Saône, Besançon,Brou, and Chambéry hold works by the artist.