Charles Morel De Tanguy (1857-1930) - View Of The Côte d'Azur By Moonlight - Riviera Landscape

Charles Morel de Tanguy (1857-1930)

A discreet but talented painter, Charles Morel de Tanguy deserves to be rediscovered. A student of the Swiss landscape artist Alexandre Calame, his work constitutes a precious and poetic testimony to the landscapes of the Côte d'Azur at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
His sensitive approach to light and color makes him an interesting representative of the Provençal landscape. His paintings are sought after by regional collectors, and by all those nostalgic for a Riviera before urbanization. The work of Charles Morel de Tanguy is centered on the landscape, particularly coastal scenes and maritime views of southeastern France. He depicts emblematic places of the region, such as the harbor of Agay, the bay of Beaulieu, Cagnes-sur-Mer and the rocks of the Estérel.

His paintings are distinguished by their keen sense of light and chromatic contrasts, often contrasting the ochre tones of Mediterranean rocks with the deep blues of the sea.

Our painting

His moonlit views, such as this one, are particularly poetic. The painting presents a narrow view of a rocky cove opening onto the sea. The eye is guided towards the horizon by a central perspective formed by two steep walls that frame a band of sparkling water. In the center, a small solitary sailboat glides gently across the sea, reinforcing the peaceful atmosphere of the scene. Dark trees, probably umbrella pines, frame the composition on either side, creating a chiaroscuro effect that makes the distant light vibrate. Morel de Tanguy lived and worked in Nice, where he had a studio, and where he produced much of his work.