Jules Brunetaut (1871–1957) Seaside In Marseille

Following in the tradition of the Marseille marine artists of the early 20th century,such as Jean-Baptiste Olive and Adolphe Gaussen, with whom he associated, Jules Brunetautpresents here a painting based on a classic yet effective composition: amassive rocky foreground on the left, and a diagonal line that draws the eye towardthe right, across a choppy sea to the Château d’If.
A lively, impasto-like texture in the water and rocks, broad brushstrokesfor the crests of foam applied in white impasto, and rocksmodeled with a palette knife or brush contrast with a smooth, almostrubbed-out sky.
This contrast between a light sky and the impasto-rich, generous lower half of the paintingconcentrates the energy where the action takes place—in the foreground.
The people of Marseille, accustomed to these lovely emerald green andturquoise hues of the water fading to ultramarine blue toward the depths, know that they evokethe Mediterranean on a cool, windy day.
The work is presented in an early 20th-century gilded frame measuring45 cm by 53 cm, with the panel itself measuring 33 cm by 41 cm.
In good condition, the work is signed in the lower right corner; it depicts aseaside scene in Marseille with the famous Château d’If in the background, standing outon the horizon in front of the Frioul Islands.