Eugène Lami, Interior Of St. Mark's Basilica In Venice, Watercolor On Paper, 1880

Watercolor depicting figures walking through St. Mark’s Basilica. Notably featured are the Gothic iconostasis, which separates the choir from the nave and is adorned with sculptures by the brothers Pierpaolo and Jacobello dalle Masegne, the pulpito (pulpit), and the famous mosaics.

Inscription and signature in the lower left corner: “To Countess d’Aure / December 3, 1880 / E Lami.”

Eugène Louis Lami (1800–1890) was a French painter, watercolorist, lithographer, and decorator. Trained at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris under Horace Vernet and later in the studio of Antoine-Jean Gros, he became the official painter to King Louis-Philippe in 1832 and depicted the social life of the July Monarchy through numerous watercolors. Tasked with redesigning the apartments of the Dukes of Aumale and Nemours, the king’s sons, as well as several residences of the Baron de Rothschild, he ushered in a return to the Louis XV and Louis XVI styles by blending period furniture with contemporary reinterpretations. On these occasions, he produced numerous sketches and drawings of his designs. A regular participant in the Salon, he presented historical scenes there—with a particular fondness for the 18th century—thus confirming his taste for this period and contributing to the spread of the movement to rediscover Rococo, which reached its peak during the Second Empire. At the same time, he also made a name for himself through his book illustrations, including Musset’s *La confession d’un enfant du siècle*, and his lithographs on various subjects (depictions of soldiers, views of Paris and London, etc.).

Tears and wear on the backing.
Good overall condition.
Dated to the late 19th century.

Dimensions:
Watercolor: 46 x 35 cm
Mount: 72 x 56.5 cm