Lot Essay
Marie Joseph Leon Clavel was born in Paris, France, in 1850. Initially working for the National Assembly, he decided to dedicate himself to art in the 1870s, befriending painter Emmanuel Lansyer. In that decade, the artist began signing his work 'I will,' referencing the English phrase and his determination to succeed. He later adapted the signature to one word 'Iwill,' as in the present work, additionally adopting this as a surname. Known for stunning depictions of the European landscape, his work can now be found in the Louvre, Paris, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.