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Looking for fine art oil painting with real brushwork? The Bay of Naples 1878 is reproduced by hand in oils on artist-grade canvas after Ivan Aivazovsky. The result is a piece of romantic oil painting wall decor that anchors an entryway and rewards a closer look.
1878
Oil on canvas
56 3/4 x 82 in.
Private collection, Germany.
By 1878, when Ivan Aivazovsky painted The Bay of Naples, he had not just found fame both in Russia and abroad; he had come to define the genre of seascape painting and redefine its place in Russian art.
At over 2 metres wide the present lot is one of the largest paintings by Aivazovsky to appear on the open market and is instantly recognisable as a work by his hand. It combines many of the elements for which he is best known and which continue to resonate with the public today, more than a century after the artist’s death. These include the diffuse sunlight filling a hazy sky which here occupies two thirds of the canvas, and the reflection of light on the calm, only slightly rippling water.
The sea in all its states, the depiction of its movement, and the play of light on water are the central motifs in Aivazovsky’s oeuvre. He was equally brilliant at depicting stormy seas in dramatic moonlight, often juxtaposing mankind with nature in true Romantic fashion, as at rendering the effects of sunlight on calm water.
Even in his later work, dating from the period when France came under the sway of the Impressionists, Aivazovsky stayed true to his Romantic roots. Early on in his career he had abandoned painting from nature, and he wasn’t interested in capturing the passing effects of light. When working in his studio, he relied on his visual memory and his imagination, claiming that it was impossible to capture the elements with a brush. The role of the artist was to memorise and subsequently use them in his paintings: ‘The subject of a painting takes shape in my mind, just like the subject for a poem in that of a poet’s’ (Quoted in Bulgakov, 1901, p.26).
This also explains why geographical details were secondary for Aivazovsky, and often not accurate; rather he drew on memories gathered over his long life and career. With the warm southern light and the distinctly Italian dress of the figures in the foreground, the present view has been traditionally identified as the coastline of Southern Italy, but the hills are equally reminiscent of the artist’s native Crimea.
Our artists reproduce this fine art composition in oil on canvas by hand, preserving the tonal range that makes fine art oil painting so sought after for an entryway.
Expect subtle, hand-made variation rather than factory uniformity. Each fine art canvas is painted with oils, allowed to cure properly, and inspected before it is approved for shipment.
Wondering where fine art oil painting looks best? Try an entryway mantel, a dining room sideboard, or a hallway gallery wall. The fine art subject reads clearly from a distance and rewards close viewing up near.
| Size | Price |
|---|---|
| 20 X 24 in | $87.98 |
| 24 X 36 in | $134.48 |
| 30 X 40 in | $185.98 |
| 36 X 48 in | $238.48 |
| 48 X 72 in | $481.48 |
The sizes shown are the reproduction canvas sizes we paint to order. The dimensions given in a work's description refer to the original artwork and will differ from the sizes offered here. Not sure? Read the size guide or e-mail us.
Free on orders over $60; a flat $5 below that. Dispatched in 1–2 business days; 30 days to send it back. Full policy.
Every canvas is painted by hand in oils on artist-grade stretched canvas, with an extra blank border left for framing. How to care for your painting.
Measurements are on the size guide, or e-mail [email protected] and we reply within one business day.
