Henri Martin

Jacques Martin-Ferrières, Paris (son of the artist)
Private Collection, France (acquired from the above)
Sale: Christie's, New York, 16 May 2018, lot 356
Private collection, (acquired at the above sale)

The authenticity of this work has been confirmed by Marie-Anne Destrebecq-Martin and it will be included in the forthcoming catalogue raisonné of Henri Martin's work. 

“What a surprise is it not to suddenly find oneself in this silence, surrounded by palaces bathed in such picturesque reflections. Get drunk...off this artistic atmosphere, and then you will meditate and create” (Martin in a letter to his son Jacques, 24 April 1925).

The present work was likely executed during Martin's prolonged trip to Venice in 1909-10. Venice held a particular fascination for the artist—he delighted in the reflections of the sky and buildings in the canals, and in the clear, strong light throughout the city. Painstakingly composed of small touches of brilliant colour, Venise, palais et gondoliers sur le Grand Canal illustrates Martin's mastery of the Neo-Impressionist technique. This painting captures the vibrant effect of sunlight coming over the grand canal in subtle variations of perfectly harmonised tones.

In its composition, the painting translates the classical values of symmetry, order and structure. The presence of a strong vertical line in the centre of the composition lends the image strength and rhythm. In its rigor, the work exemplifies how Martin was able to depict the life of his time in classical terms, while the technique—modern, fragmented and vibrant—adds a fleeting sense of beauty and a delicate harmony to the picture.