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475
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Félix Ziem (French, 1821–1911)
See original version (French)
475
-
Félix Ziem (French, 1821–1911)
See original version (French)
Estimate €8,000 - €12,000
Voluntary lot
Description
Félix Ziem (French, 1821–1911)
A gondola ride beneath the trees, Venice
Panel.
Signed lower right, with the inscription ‘To Monsieur de Selves’.
Height 53, width 65 cm.
Gilded stucco frame. 77 x 88 cm. Damage, losses and restoration.
Bibliography:
- Anne Burdin-Hellebranth, “Félix Ziem. Catalogue raisonné”, vol. 1, Paris, 1998, works relating to nos. 787, 809, 827 and 851.
- “Félix Ziem, Capturing the Light”, exhibition catalogue, Paris, Petit Palais; Milan, Silvana Editoriale, 2023, a similar work on p. 60.
Provenance:
- Presumably gifted by the artist to Mr Justin de Selves (1848–1934), Prefect of the Seine department;
- Private collection, Berry.
Ziem. Gondola in the Venetian Lagoon. Panel presented by the artist to the Prefect of Paris.
The Félix Ziem Association, represented by David Pluskwa, Mathias Ary Jan and Gérard Fabre, has confirmed the authenticity of this work and issued a certificate which will be provided to the purchaser.
On 13 December 1905, the newly established Musée des Beaux-Arts de Paris, housed in the Petit Palais, inaugurated the Ziem Gallery following the donation made by the painter in June of that same year. On this occasion, the President of the Republic, Émile Loubet, was present, as was the Prefect of the Seine, Justin de Selves, who spoke words of praise for the painter: “What inauguration could better inspire such feelings […]. Ziem, the hero of the day, is here with his watercolours, his sketchbooks, his studies, his sketches and his paintings. Ziem, who, on his miraculous palette, has managed to recapture the colours of the East, and with masterful artistry, to convey the splendour of the fiery atmospheres and sun-drenched waters [...] the magic of light and shadow on the waters of Venice...” (in Pierre Miquel, Félix Ziem, Maurs-la-Jolie, Ed. de la Martinelle, 1978, p. 195).
Our painting, along with its accompanying letter to Monsieur de Selves, was most likely presented by Ziem at that time. It perfectly illustrates the artist’s work, focusing on depicting the most iconic vessel of the Most Serene Republic: a gondola. By refraining from any architectural detail, Ziem breaks away here from the style of the veduta painters to capture the poetry of the setting sun over the Venetian lagoon.
Brice Langlois
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale
Classic and Contemporary Interiors II
Auction location
Auction time
09/18/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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