Lot Essay
The talent of Jacob Maris was recognised commercially from an early age. It was an art dealer who recognised his exceptional skills, and secured him a place in the studio of Hubertus van Hove (1790-1880). Maris followed his teacher to Antwerp, where he lived – and exchanged ideas with – his brother Matthijs Maris (1839-1917) and Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836-1912). Thanks to the money Maris made in his early days, he was able to travel throughout Europe in 1861. This not only influenced and broadened the subject matter of his oeuvre, but also promoted the Maris name to a widespread group of interested buyers and collectors. This would help with his commercial success in Scotland and America as his career progressed. The present lot is an example of Jacob Maris' Italiennes, a painting showing Italian girls engaged in numerous kinds of activities. This genre of painting is typical for Maris during his time in Paris (1865-1871). Indeed, this work was painted in the midst of his time in Paris in 1867.
Generally, these depictions of Italian girls were made for the international gallery Goupil & Cie. The gallery encouraged both Maris as an artist and his depictions of Italiennes as they were popular with their foreign clientele. The provenance of the present lot underlines this work's international popularity; travelling from Paris, to Glasgow and to Oosterbeek in The Netherlands. The present lot is an example of Ernest Hébert's (1817-1908) influence on Maris’ work. During his time in Paris, thanks to an introduction by Vincent van Gogh Snr, art dealer and uncle of the painter, Maris studied under Hébert, who travelled through Italy between 1840-1859. Partly due to Hébert's knowledge of Italy, Maris continued with his Italiennes and developed these scenes under Hébert's guidance. As depicted in the present lot, inspired by his masters, Maris started to include landscape backgrounds in his works of Italian girls. The light palette brings a relaxed atmosphere to the composition, whilst the elegant stance of the girl, the simple movement of water and the glint of reflected light on the side of the girl’s jar shows how Maris was dedicated not only to the model, but the composition as a whole.
Generally, these depictions of Italian girls were made for the international gallery Goupil & Cie. The gallery encouraged both Maris as an artist and his depictions of Italiennes as they were popular with their foreign clientele. The provenance of the present lot underlines this work's international popularity; travelling from Paris, to Glasgow and to Oosterbeek in The Netherlands. The present lot is an example of Ernest Hébert's (1817-1908) influence on Maris’ work. During his time in Paris, thanks to an introduction by Vincent van Gogh Snr, art dealer and uncle of the painter, Maris studied under Hébert, who travelled through Italy between 1840-1859. Partly due to Hébert's knowledge of Italy, Maris continued with his Italiennes and developed these scenes under Hébert's guidance. As depicted in the present lot, inspired by his masters, Maris started to include landscape backgrounds in his works of Italian girls. The light palette brings a relaxed atmosphere to the composition, whilst the elegant stance of the girl, the simple movement of water and the glint of reflected light on the side of the girl’s jar shows how Maris was dedicated not only to the model, but the composition as a whole.