Fishing boats, Venice
Date made: 1896
Artist: Nicholson, John Miller
Description: Painted in 1896, John Miller Nicholson’s oil painting of fishing boats in Venice was completed fourteen years after his 1882 trip to Italy. He extensively sketched the scenes before him whilst travelling to the Italian cities of Venice and Verona, and completed the paintings many years later.
Nicholson had an affinity for the sea and maritime scenes which he seemed to have inherited from his grandfather, who was a mariner and owner of three brigs in Whitehaven. It is likely that Venice, with its working quaysides and views of boats across the lagoon, held the same magic and fascination for the artist that the working harbour of Douglas had done from his earliest childhood memories.
This striking painting immediately catches the eye with the warm oranges and yellows of the harbour reflecting in the water, resembling a sunset, and the looming sails of fishing boats dominating the image and highlighting every brush stroke. The artist casually uses his brush to create an instantly recognisable image, where the sounds, smells and scenes of a working harbour come to life through the movement and flexibility of the light Nicholson captures so carefully in his painting.
It is said that Nicholson was never more in control of a pencil, brush, or camera than when recording boats and harbour scenes.
Measurements: unframed artwork: 44 cm x 29 cm
Materials: oil on canvas
Object name: painting
Collection: Art Collection
ID number: 1954-2501/053
Subject tags : #artgalleryjourneys