(Honfleur 1824-1898 Deauville)
Quai à Villefranche, signed, dated and inscribed E.Boudin 92 Villefranche mars, oil on canvas, 50 x 61 cm, framed.

Provenance:
Acquired directly from the artist by Durand-Ruel, 13 March 1893;
Durand-Ruel Gallery, Paris;
Sotheby´s London, 22 June 1993, lot 7;
Acquired from the above by the present owner;
European Private Collection

Exhibited:
Paris, Salon des Indèpendants, 1893;
Paris, Durand-Ruel Gallery, Eugène Boudin, 1923, no.1.

Catalogued and illustrated in:
Robert Schmit, Eugène Boudin, 1824-1898, Paris, 1973, vol.III, P.121, no. 2894.

Painted in 1892, the present work depicts the inherent beauty of the natural harbour of Villefranche-sur-Mer in the South of France. Throughout his sojourn there, Eugène Boudin painted exquisite images recording the atmosphere of the everyday life and loveliness of the quiet. Here, Boudin has created a tender ode to a life of tranquility.

Eugène Boudin painted largely en plein air. In the present composition he dedicated a large part to the sky. He is indeed one of the first French artists to show the virtues of plein air painting. He is credited with having shown the importance of painting in the open air on the spot to his friend Claude Monet. He was a source of inspiration for the next generation of artists. Boudin’s oeuvre depicts seascapes and coastal towns, especially the Normandy coast with its ever-changing skies. He was quoted “the king of skies” by Camille Corot.
He was in love with the sea whatever the time of the day or year. He remained faithful all his life to the coasts, boats and endless skies. Another version of the same subject also completed in March 1892 was sold at Christie’s New York in 2019.