{"product_id":"venetian-harbor-by-felix-francois-georges-ziem","title":"Venetian Harbor by Félix-François Georges Ziem","description":"Félix-François Georges Ziem\u003cbr\u003e 1821-1911 | French \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cem\u003eVenetian Harbor\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Signed “Ziem” (lower left)\u003cbr\u003e Oil on canvas \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The city of Venice was a favorite subject of French artist Félix-François Georges Ziem. In this atmospheric composition, Ziem captures the city's bustling harbor, where sailboats, gondolas and working vessels gather beneath a vast blue sky. The masterwork celebrates both the grandeur of Venice's architecture and its everyday commerce, while serving as an exceptional study of light and color. Influenced by the ideals of the Barbizon School, Ziem employs brilliant contrasts of light and shadow to animate the composition and evoke the city's luminous atmosphere. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Ziem originally planned to become an architect until \"disciplinary\" problems caused him to lose his scholarship to the Academie d'architecture of Dijon in 1841. Upon his dismissal, he decided to embark on a journey to Rome on foot. It was during this time that his hobby of painting became his life's work. He executed hundreds of sketches of the lands he came across, often selling or trading them for food. No other city struck him as did Venice, with its network of waterways and outstanding architecture–he immediately fell in love. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Ziem's infatuation with the city would last throughout his career and would become the subject of his most desirable and striking paintings. Several of the artist's renditions of Venice appear in the permanent collections of some of the world's most prestigious museums, including the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He would return to Venice again in 1845, this time spending three years sketching the city from nearly every possible angle. Ziem completed several paintings upon his return to France and submitted them to the 1849 Paris Salon with great success. He continued to exhibit at the Salon until 1868, then again from 1888 until his death. His work made him one of the most sought-after artists of his day, so much so that in 1864, he was honored to have Queen Victoria herself under his tutelage. In 1857, Ziem was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, rising to the rank of Officer in 1878. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Late 19th\/Early 20th century \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Canvas: 26 1\/4” high x 43 1\/2” wide (66.7 x 110.5 cm)\u003cbr\u003e Frame: 40” high x 56 3\/4” wide x 4 3\/4\" deep (101.6 x 144.2 x 12.1 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Provenance:\u003cbr\u003e Private collection, Boston\u003cbr\u003e Private collection, Miami\u003cbr\u003e M.S. Rau, New Orleans","brand":"M.S. Rau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44936333459591,"sku":"32-2726","price":88500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0083\/2471\/0466\/files\/32-2726_1.png?v=1781904147","url":"https:\/\/rauantiques.com\/products\/venetian-harbor-by-felix-francois-georges-ziem","provider":"M.S. Rau","version":"1.0","type":"link"}