Alphonse Lecoz (1833-1914) - L'Art des Maîtres charpentiers à San Trovaso

Hello, I propose a work signed LECOZ, for Alphonse LECOZ (1833-1914), a referenced painter. This oil on cardboard offers an atmospheric interpretation of a Venice district where the famous “Squero di San Trovaso” is located, a traditional shipyard where gondolas have been built and repaired for centuries. This unusual and emblematic place, little known, helped immortalize VENICE. The composition rests on an off-center vanishing point to the right, following the canal which creates a natural sense of depth and draws the eye from the center toward the distant scene. In the foreground, a gondola glides along the calm canal waters steered by a gondolier whose silhouette is sketched with precision. The dark reflection of the gondola appears on the water’s surface, creating a contrast with the lighter tones of the architectural reflections. On the right, a stone-arched bridge spans the canal, connecting the buildings along the shore. The architecture is rendered in light tones, ochres and pinks typical of the Venetian palette. The background is dominated by the bell tower of the San Trovaso church, rising above the orange-tiled roofs. Dense, dark foliage surrounds this tower, adding chromatic contrast with the sky. The “Squero San Trovaso” depicted on the left side is Venice’s most famous and oldest shipyard. It dates back to a period earlier than the 17th century and is among the very few shipyards still in operation. The craftsmen of the Squero San Trovaso still build gondolas by hand, always without plans, in keeping with ancestral traditions. The work is executed on a rigid support allowing full paint application. The grain texture of the cardboard seems to influence the adherence of the paint, particularly visible in the sky areas. The piece is distinguished by a thick brushwork technique giving the painting a textured and vibrant feel. The thick pictorial material enhances the play of light on the walls and water. The artist employs an impasto technique, mainly on the façades of the buildings and the bell tower. This accumulation of material creates a tactile relief that accentuates the reflection of light. LECOZ plays with a gradation of tones from dark in the foreground to lighter along the vanishing line to mark depth. The palette is limited to earthy tones (ochres, umbers, sienna) contrasted with the cool tones of the sky and water (cerulean blues and grays). The water is rendered interestingly through the use of horizontal quick strokes simulating surface movement. The artist uses a warm palette for the buildings, exploring variations of ochre, earth of Siena and pink that contrast with the blues and muted grays of the sky and water. The light seems to suggest a spring morning with shadows that reinforce the picturesque and nostalgic aspect of the scene. Frame dimensions: 30 cm x 25.5 cm Work dimensions: 25.5 cm x 20.5 cm Through this oil on cardboard, Alphonse LECOZ immortalizes the eternal soul of VENICE. Far from the grandiose and touristy views known, the artist chooses to magnify the “Squero di San Trovaso,” a place where craft meets water, transforming a shipyard scene into a composition imbued with poetry. The vigor of his brushwork and the warmth of his palette give this work a human presence. By choosing to depict this emblematic place, the artist not only paints a landscape but the beating heart of a centuries-old tradition, highlighting the persistence of artisanal know-how of Venice, the “Serenissima.”

Stima:€700

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