Victor Coste (1844-1923) Fisherman Repairing His Nets

An artist who witnessed his time, Victor Coste often depicts seafarers, fishermen, and sailors at work, but always in a peaceful and poetic atmosphere, using a range of soft colors skillfully applied to a beautiful texture. This work will appeal to those nostalgic for an era when, despite the arduous nature of the work, people did not shy away from the task, and when, like this solitary fisherman mending his nets, work well done was carried out with wisdom and experience. The painting, in very good condition, is an oil on panel and is presented in a lovely Louis XIV-style frame with a gilt patina, measuring 38.5 cm x 49 cm (the panel itself measures 23 cm x 32.5 cm). In excellent condition, the work is signed in the lower right corner. A student of Dominique Magaud and Johanny Rave at the Marseille School of Fine Arts, and later of François Barry, he participated in the Paris Salon from 1883 to 1896. He also exhibited at the 1906 Colonial Exhibition, specializing in seascapes. His works are now held at the Palais Longchamp, the Musée Granet in Aix-en-Provence, the Fondation Regards de Provence, and the Musée de Cassis.