Venice, a gondola at night
21.5 x 15.5 cm.
Ink, ink wash, and gouache on heavy paper
Alonso de Parys, also known as Alfonso or Alphonse G. de Parys, was a Spanish illustrator active mainly in France between 1885 and 1936. Born in Madrid in the 19th century, his date of death remains uncertain, although some sources suggest he died in 1935 or 1936.
Alonso de Parys began his career in the 1880s, specializing in press and literary illustration.
He collaborated with renowned publishing houses, including the Hachette bookstore, and contributed to various press publications. His style, characterized by great expressiveness and careful attention to detail, was praised for its ability to capture the essence of the scenes he illustrated.
Notable works include illustrations for authors such as Paul and Victor Margueritte, Jules Sandeau, Zénaïde Fleuriot, and Alexandre Dumas. He also created designs for theater performances and operas, such as "Lohengrin" at the Opéra in 1891. Several of his works are preserved at the Bibliothèque nationale de France, testifying to his importance in the artistic landscape of the time.
His works met with real success, both in esteem and commercially, and found favor with a public attentive to their quality of execution and inventiveness. For example, "The Portraitist Observed" sold at Sotheby's, New York, (27/10/1988, €6,100) or the Bridal Procession in Cairo, past Tajan (24/11/2005, €2,500)
This original illustration immediately immerses the viewer in an atmosphere of mystery, romanticism and intrigue, typical of the imaginary Venice that literature and the arts have often depicted. On board an elegant gondola, two figures stand close to each other, wrapped in dark cloaks, while a masked or hooded gondolier leads them through the canals, in a theatrical night bathed by a dramatic moon and the boat's lamp.