City Of Saintes

Louis-Auguste Auguin (1824-1903) View of Saintes – The Arch of Germanicus Seen from the Quai de l'Yser and the Old Barracks. Oil on canvas. This painting depicts a lively and picturesque view of the town of Saintes, taken from the Quai de l'Yser, with the famous Arch of Germanicus standing out against the urban architecture in the background. The scene is structured by the peaceful flow of the Charente River, on which several boats are sailing, filled with people going about their daily business. On the right bank, the quay is lined with tall trees, including a majestic cypress, and characteristic buildings, among them the old barracks. Strollers in period dress add a touch of life and elegance to the composition. The wide-open sky is rendered in delicate shades of blue and pink, suggesting a soft light, probably that of late afternoon. This work, dating from 1851, testifies to the early work of Louis-Auguste Auguin, already marked by a true sense of composition, an attention to atmospheric effects, and a pronounced taste for urban and river landscapes. It foreshadows the landscape qualities that the artist would later fully develop, notably in his views of the Southwest and his seascapes. (Usual restorations to the canvas and frame.) Wikipedia: Louis-Augustin Auguin, born May 29, 1824, in Rochefort and died July 30, 1903, in Bordeaux, was a French painter. This renowned landscape painter, who also painted marine subjects, established himself as the leader of the Saintonge landscape school.