Vue Lacustre

20th-century French oil painting on wooden panel by Charles Martin-Sauvaigo (1881-1970). The artwork features the studio stamp and the artist signature on the back side, and is title: "Retour en Île-de-France" (Back to Île-de-France). 

A charming landscape, painted from and depicting the bank of a peaceful river. The colors on the water, on the far bank, and in the sky are dreamy and soft. The foreground is darker, with the largest tree, on the left hand side, picking up the majority of shadow in the piece. 

Because of the wood grain on which this piece was painted, and perhaps the lack of a primer, the wood has come through over time, revealing itself as part of the painting itself. The overall effect is a rugged and distinctly worn artwork, full of charm. 

Because the artist is from the south of France, and the painting is titled, "Retour en Île-de-France," we know this is one of his trips north. He lived in Paris at the end of this life, and so this may have been a later work. The back of the painting also has quite a bit of character.

About Charles Martin-Sauvaigo (1881-1970):

Born on February 7, 1881, in Carras, a district of Nice, Charles Martin-Sauvaigo grew up in a family of farmers. His talent was recognized early by Félix Ziem, a key figure of the Barbizon School and a friend of Chopin and Rodin, who encouraged him to pursue an artistic career.

Trained under Alexis Mossa, he later joined the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he quickly distinguished himself by winning several competitions. His first official commissions came from the Prefecture of Alpes-Maritimes and the Nice Chamber of Commerce.

At just 24, he exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Français, earning multiple awards, including a gold medal in 1937. In 1922, he was appointed Official Painter of the French Navy, a role that allowed him to travel extensively and explore new artistic perspectives. His career was marked by prestigious commissions, including a vast 400-square-meter diorama for the Côte d’Azur Pavilion at the 1937 Paris Exposition Universelle, as well as paintings for luxury ocean liners such as the SS Île de France.

Despite his many travels, Martin-Sauvaigo remained deeply connected to his homeland. He captured the harbors, landscapes, and rural scenes of the Niçois region and Provence, masterfully portraying the region’s distinctive light with a colorful yet subtle palette. His painting La Provence - Moulin de Daudet, an homage to the writer Alphonse Daudet, was exhibited at the 1939 New York World’s Fair.

Throughout his life, he actively advocated for artists’ recognition and was inducted into the Académie de Marine. He received the vermeil medal from the city of Paris and, in 1929, was named an Officer of the Légion d’Honneur.

Charles Martin-Sauvaigo passed away on November 9, 1970, in Paris. The city of Nice honored his legacy by naming an alley in his birthplace after him. Today, some of his paintings are preserved in the Musée Masséna in Nice and the Musée d’Art Moderne in Paris.

• Overall Size: 14.9" x 10.6" / 38cm x 27.5cm.
• Size without the frame: 9.4" x 6.2" / 24cm x 16cm.
• Country: France.
  
• Signed: The artwork features the studio stamp and the artist signature on the reverse.
• Date: Early 20th century. 
• Condition: The panel shows linear wear marks (across the entire sky) visible on the surface, revealing the natural wood grain, along with a small dark spot at the upper center. The antique frame has some minor dents and losses, but its overall condition remains very good.
• Materials: Oil painting on wood panel with an antique curved wooden frame. 
• Shipping: This painting includes free shipping. An additional fee is applied for Australia, New Zealand, and Asia.