Gibraltar by Night by Ivan Aivazovsky

Gibraltar by Night - Ivan Aivazovsky - Oil Painting Wall Decor

At a Glance

Nothing softens a hallway like a painted surface. Gibraltar by Night by Ivan Aivazovsky arrives as a hand painted oil painting on canvas, offering the fine art detail, soft gradients, and tactile finish that fine art oil painting shoppers look for.

Composition & Subject

1844
Oil on canvas

Gibraltar by Night dates from the end of an extensive European tour which Aivazovsky embarked upon following his graduation from the Academy of Arts in 1840. Travelling through Italy, England, Portugal, Spain and Holland, he quickly made a name for himself in Europe as news spread of his talents as a marine artist and he was named Academician by no less than three European Academies of art. It was, however, the rumours emanating from Russia that Aivazovsky had decided to abandon his homeland and settle permanently in Paris which persuaded him to cut short his travels in 1845 and return to St. Petersburg immediately.

The offered lot is believed to have been painted in The Hague where it was probably also exhibited at the time of Aivazovsky's nomination as an Academician by the Amsterdam Academy of Arts. Although firmly grounded in the Classical tradition with its use of defined planes to give the impression of depth, the composition also reveals Aivazovsky's brilliance and innovation as this device is inverted and used to even greater dramatic effect. The brightness of the moon immediately draws the viewer to the striking silhouette of the rock of Gibraltar at the very back of the composition. Yet, it is only through looking beyond this initial focus that we notice the shape of the sinking steamer emerging from the darkness of the foreground, lit eerily by the red sparks sputtering from its funnel.

Gibraltar by Night illustrates Aivazovsky's deftness at capturing the effect of light on moving water. The technique of applying numerous very thin paint layers on top of each other allowed him to create the most subtle gradations of tone, which Nikolai Kramskoy described as "secret colours ... so bright and pure as I have never seen ... on a dry salter's shelves" (quoted in V.Pilipenko, Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky. Leningrad: Khudozhnik RSFSR, 1991, p. 29).

Collectors often choose this fine art image when searching for fine art oil painting that feels substantial rather than decorative or disposable.

Materials & Craftsmanship

Materials matter for romantic wall decor. That is why this piece is built on artist-grade canvas with lightfast oil colors, applied by hand rather than output from a printer, and sealed for long-term display.

What Is Included

• 100% hand-painted oil painting on artist-grade canvas — never a print or digital reproduction.
• Comes with a 2-inch unpainted margin on every side, ready for stretcher bars or a frame.
• We dispatch worldwide ourselves, so there are no middlemen in the chain.
• Available canvas sizes for this hand painted oil painting: 20 X 24 in, 24 X 36 in, 30 X 40 in, 36 X 48 in, 48 X 72 in.
• Any size you need can be produced — just tell us your preferred dimensions.
• Multiple low-cost carriers available, including DHL, UPS, FedEx and USPS.
• Free professional stretching on wooden stretcher bars — contact us for framing options.
• We send a digital image of your fine art painting for approval before it ships.

Styling & Placement

Style it over a fireplace, behind a reading chair, or along a staircase. Wherever it goes, this romantic oil painting wall decor adds the layered color that only a hand painted canvas provides.

Ordering & Peace of Mind

Whether the search term is fine art oil painting, hallway wall art, or romantic oil painting wall decor, this hand painted canvas delivers the same thing: a real painted surface, made to your chosen dimensions.