A Lovely Oil on Panel painting of Sailboats on the Seine near Villequier by Albert Malet.
Born in Bosc le Hard, north of Rouen in 1912, Malet began painting at the age of 19, benefiting from the advice of his illustrious teacher, Robert Antoine Pinchon, himself a pupil of Albert Lebourg (two masters of the Rouen school).
A talented colorist and luminist, Malet captures on canvas the fleeting atmosphere and fluctuating colors of his subjects.
Setting up his easel in the Normandy countryside, he knew how to allow himself to be immersed in places, the better to transcribe them.
His motto was “See everything, feel everything”
From 1942 onwards, he exhibited at the Salon de l’Ecole Française in Paris, then at the Galerie Legrip in Rouen, and abroad in Algeria, Germany, Japan…
He died in Rouen in 1986.
He is considered the last of the French Impressionists.
Our painting is a view of the Seine at Villequier, a French commune located west of Rouen, midway between the ports of Le Havre and Honfleur.
At the bend of a wide meander in the Seine, three sailboats sail on the calm waters of the river.
Autumn has already given flamboyant colors to the surrounding vegetation, and under a stormy sky, the entire atmosphere of Normandy is revealed.
The humidity is palpable, the clouds are threatening, and the hills are adorned with mauve.
This beautiful framing allows us to better appreciate the quiet strength of this important river that crosses Normandy.
Malet’s Impressionist technique is very recognizable; the ripples and brushstrokes have left their mark on the paint and remain very visible.
Note the undulating color scheme, in the ochre hills and lower left in the lighter part of the Seine.
A large, vibrant and colorful work, an excellent example of the talent of this Rouen School artist whose success continues to grow.
Oil on panel in perfect condition, signed lower left, in a giltwood frame.
Located and dated on the back.
Unframed 18 X 21 1/2
Framed 24 X 27 3/4