Félix Ziem (French, 1821–1911) On the Bosphorus

Provenance: Collection of Peter Schemm Jr., Philadelphia.

Collection of Charles Knox Smith, Philadelphia.

Bonhams, New York, sale of October 29, 2010, lot 149.

Acquired directly from the above sale.

Private Collection, New York.

NOTE:

L'Association Félix Ziem, represented by Mr. David Pluskwa and Mr. Mathias Ary-Jan, kindly confirmed the authenticity of the present work when it was last offered at auction. It will be included in the forthcoming Catalogue Raisonné of the Artist's work.

Primarily known as a landscape painter, Félix Ziem produced a prodigious quantity of work, mostly scenes set in Venice Lagoon, which he visited annually until 1892. In addition to Venice, Ziem also explored the Near and Far East, including travelling extensively to Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Algiers, and Turkey - as shown in the present work, a captivating scene set along the Bosphorus at twilight, with several figures and boats along the shore occupying the foreground, and with Constantinople in the distance at center left. In contrast to his Venetian scene, the landscape is calm and still. The composition is highly realistic, but also absorbs the romantic trends prevalent in art during that time. In the painting, the upper two-thirds of the composition are comprised of sky - a format generally favored by the artist, who also revealed in capturing the effects of light and sun, and reflections on the water.