Marine Emile Maillard, Marine Painter

The painting depicts the skillful maneuvering of large gaff-rigged cutters entering (or leaving) a harbor in very rough seas. It shows a scene in which several working boats are adjusting their sails to make the most of the well-established wind. Back then, for what we now call “old-time sailing ships,” sailing through the entrance to a harbor—which could be Barfleur or Le Havre—under sail and heavily laden was not exactly easy...The mainsail is hauled in as tight as possible, and one can almost hear the rigging creaking...Night hasn’t quite fallen yet, and the twilight tints the sky with a barely perceptible pink. Perhaps a squall is on the way, and the waves in the foreground are barely broken by the breakwater. The lighthouse is lit, and spectators are on the lookout, just as they are every evening… At their feet, white foam and massive waves crash down with a thunderous roar. Are all the boats present, or is one missing?
In 1906, Émile Maillard was at the height of his creative powers; he had been appointed court painter of the navy in May 1891, and is now known for his skill in realistically capturing the violence of the swell and the light filtering through the overcast, misty skies of the Opal Coast or the Cotentin Peninsula.This oil on canvas features Maillard’s characteristic tones: blue-gray, ochres, impasto whites for the foam, and silvery reflections on the water.
Born in Amiens in 1846 and died in Le Havre in 1846, Émile Maillard specialized in seascapes, storm scenes, and coastal landscapes of Picardy, Normandy, and the Opal Coast. He was awarded the gold medal by the Société des Amis des Arts de la Somme in 1888.
The canvas is in good condition; note the barely visible traces of very slight wear on the paint layer at the corners of the stretcher frame on the back of the canvas. No major restoration on the back of the canvas; there are two barely visible small dents or minimal holes.
Original wooden frame covered with gilded stucco, in fair condition.
The price reflects the described condition, which remains very satisfactory for a large painting from this period that has not been re-stretched.
PLEASE NOTE: SHIPPING IS AT YOUR OWN EXPENSE VIA A SPECIALIZED CARRIER; COSTS ARE TO BE ARRANGED DIRECTLY WITH YOUR CARRIER. THE PAINTING CAN BE VIEWED BY APPOINTMENT IN THE CENTRE REGION AND WILL THEN BE ON DISPLAY NEAR THE PARIS AREA. PLEASE CONTACT US.