A Seaport
- Artist: Charles-François de Lacroix
- Date: about 1760
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is "A Seaport" painted by Charles-François de Lacroix. The scene depicts a Mediterranean port facing south into a gentle breeze that scarcely ruffles the sea. The sun is nearly setting, tingeing the clouds with a hazy peachy light.
You can see three people standing on the harbour - a gentleman and two finely dressed ladies. The harbour itself is bustling with turbaned sailors and merchants. A launch with a covered seating area is being prepared by the steps, perhaps to carry the party to one of the ships moored in the harbour.
The artist's use of warm tones and soft contrasts of light creates a sense of calmness in this painting. The brushwork is relatively loose, which was typical of Lacroix's style. In fact, stylistically, it suggests that this painting was made around 1760.
It's worth noting that this painting was once attributed to another artist, Jean-Baptiste Vernet, but it's now believed to be a work by Charles-François de Lacroix. The warm tones and loose brushwork are characteristic of Lacroix's style, and the soft contrasts of light create a peaceful atmosphere in this scene.
See it in person
A Seaport hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
