French School of the 18th Century, Circle of Charles François Grenier de Lacroix (Marseille, 1700 - Berlin 1779)
Rocky Landscape with Tower and Figures
Oil on canvas, cm 293 x 106.5
Framed, cm 304.5 x 120
Charles François Grenier de Lacroix, better known as Charles François Lacroix de Marseille, was a French painter of the 18th century, born in Marseille around 1700 and died in Berlin between 1779 and 1782. His fame is mainly linked to his seascapes and landscapes, often characterized by evocative atmospheres and views of Mediterranean ports, which made him an esteemed emulator and student of Joseph Vernet. Lacroix's artistic training is not fully documented, but his first known works, two Italian Marines dated 1743, already show a clear influence of Vernet. His interest in Italy led him to stay in Rome in 1750 and then in 1754, where he continued to perfect his style, enriching his views with classical elements and ancient ruins, in a capriccio of real and imaginary architectural elements. During his stay in Italy, in 1757, he was in Naples, although his return to Rome in 1759 is attested. In 1780, he published an advertisement in Paris to welcome students into his studio, a sign of his desire to pass on his art. Some of his paintings were engraved by artists such as Jean Jacques Le Veau and Noël Le Mire, contributing to the diffusion of his work and to the great visual fortune of his production internationally. In the last years of his life, Charles François Lacroix moved to Berlin, where he worked for the King of Prussia until his death in 1779. His works are now found in numerous public collections, including fine art museums in Bordeaux, Dijon, Lille, Marseille and Rouen in France, and the Dallas Museum of Art in the United States, testifying to his lasting impact on the artistic scene of his time. His ability to capture light and the different atmospheric conditions in his seascapes and landscapes makes him a significant figure for genre painting of the 18th century.
Various characteristics similar to the production of Charles François Lacroix de Marseille's prolific workshop are found in this fascinating landscape. The painting shows a dramatic and suggestive coastal landscape, in which natural elements and curious architectures coexist harmoniously. The scene is dominated by a rocky cliff that rises above the rough sea on the right, where the waves crash on the shore. In the foreground, on the left, there are human figures and animals in a rocky area, with cows lying down resting. In the center, the cliff is surmounted by a solid wall, probably part of a fortification or a city wall, which extends horizontally. A large leafy tree grows on top of the cliff, with its dense foliage standing out against the sky. On the right, a massive reddish tower emerges, with a large arch at the base and an upper structure that suggests a function of sighting or defense. Near the tower and along the road that climbs up the cliff, some human figures on horseback and on foot can be seen, suggesting a passage or travel activity. The sky is stormy and dramatic, with dark clouds gathering over the top and a softer glow towards the horizon, giving the scene an intense and almost melancholic atmosphere. On the right, in the distance, one can glimpse a profile of a city or a coastal settlement, with houses and structures descending towards the sea. The style of the painting, with its attention to light, atmospheric variations and dramatic composition, is characteristic of French artists of the eighteenth century who were influenced by Italian landscape painting, in particular by the Roman tradition, first of all Lacroix de Marseille. The presence of classical or pseudo-classical architectures and the representation of grandiose natural elements recall the teachings of Joseph Vernet and the interpretation provided by Lacroix de Marseille, whose seascapes and coastal landscapes were very successful and were taken as a model by numerous painters of the period.
