Stormy Seascape, In The Style Of Joseph Vernet (1714-1789)

in the style of Joseph Vernet (1714-1789) Oil on panel Dim without frame 28/21 cmDim with frame 38/31 cmFrench school Gilt frame This striking storm scene pays homage to the art of Joseph Vernet, undisputed master of marine painting in the 18th century. In a dramatic atmosphere dominated by a stormy sky crossed by lightning, the anonymous artist depicts the tumult of the elements, with a remarkable mastery of chiaroscuro and movement. On the shore beaten by the waves, two human figures struggle against the fury of the waves. One bends down to help, while the other, arms raised, seems to implore the heavens. In the distance, ships face the assaults of the raging sea, while a coastal building, barely visible under the clouds, evokes the fragile horizon between man and nature. The lively and nervous brushstrokes, the diagonal composition, the precision of the lighting effects, and the melancholic poetry of the subject reflect the direct influence of Vernet, whose seascapes were prized by enlightened connoisseurs of the Age of Enlightenment. A small-scale work of great character, this seascape illustrates all the expressive power of the Romantic landscape before its time. A collector's item, as decorative as it is moving.