Seacoast with Ships

Pierre-Jacques Volaire, artist

1729–1802

Seacoast with Ships, mid-late 1700s

Where object was made: France

Material/technique: oil; canvas

Dimensions:
Canvas/Support (Height x Width x Depth): 45.1 x 63.5 cm
Canvas/Support (Height x Width x Depth): 17 3/4 x 25 in
Frame Dimensions (Height x Width x Depth): 23 x 30 1/2 in

Credit line: Gift of Andre Emmerich

Accession number: 1974.0139

On display: Simons Gallery

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Label texts

Soundings: Making Culture at Sea

The increase in European maritime voyages for trade, exploration, and imperial expansion prompted a cultural interest in images of the sea. Scenes of ships in quiet harbors or on stormy seas became popular. The French artist Volaire was born in the military seaport of Toulon to a family of painters whose work included decorating ships. While this seascape creates a romantic view of seafaring, its inspiration is rooted in the growing importance of shipping in Europe.

Exhibition Label:
"Empire of Things," 2013, Kate Meyer
Volaire came from a family of painters in the French military seaport of Toulon, where his grandfather decorated naval vessels. He also learned from the eminent marine painter Joseph Vernet, who employed Volaire while in Toulon for his series of major French seaports. Like Vernet before him and many other artists of the period, Volaire moved to Italy, settling in Naples. He became popular among French and British tourists for his seascapes and his dramatic renderings of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.
A billowing mountain of luminous grey clouds fills the background of this lively harbor scene. Attentive to the design and lighting of his works, Volaire depicts the darkened foreground figures in silhouette against the reflective light of the clouds and sea. Such a setting would have allowed the tourist who likely purchased this sea vista to easily imagine him or herself among those along the harbor.

Archive Label 1999:
In 1769, Volaire settled in Naples, Italy, where he specialized in painting dramatic views of Mount Vesuvius, as well as pleasant seascapes, like the one seen here. Seacoast with Ships possesses many of the standard elements of one type of eighteenth-century romantic painting. These include a rustic landscape, architectural ruins, peasants and seafarers, all contained within a light, airy atmosphere.