French School Circa 1860/70 : "marine A La Fortification"

French school circa 1860/70: “Marine à la fortification”, oil on hard cardboard 16 X 40 cm, mounted in a beautiful gilded frame 28 X 53 cm. Probably made in Normandy or Brittany, this lovely navy was surely done from an island because you can see the coast line all over the horizon. An old fortification is topped with a strange apparatus, perhaps the remains of a semaphore or a winch support for unloading goods from boats too big to moor. Two women collect kelp in the background while a man in a white jacket and straw hat, from the back seems to paint or draw: a mise en abyme of the painter? The finesse of the details and the quality of the touch indicate a Master but, unless the traces that can be seen at the bottom right are the remains of a signature, it will be difficult to find which one. Do not hesitate to ask us for photos or additional information by email or phone. In partnership with the Galerie Lafouresse, we are specialists in paintings on the Basque Country, the Landes and the Arcachon Basin. Other photos and many other objects in our stores in Pau and Biarritz and on our website: galerielhoste.com.