Collas: White Birches In Provence 19th Century Mediterranean Landscape

Many of you will know that I love the luminosity of mediterranean landscapes, and here is a very rare, early and special one. It dates from the 1870s, and was painted in the pays d'Aix, between Aix en Provence and Marseilles on the coast. It is a work by Provenal master Joseph Collas, a native of Aix en Provence. Born in 1841, Collas studied with Emile Loubon - who was also known for his panoramic landscapes of Provence - and exhibited widely, at the Paris salon from 1863 to 1902. and at the Galerie Jules Olive in Marseille. Works by Collas can be found in the Museum of Fine Arts of Marseille, where there is notably a charcoal drawing which looks as if it could be study for the magnificent white birch in the foreground of our painting!

Our oil on canvas, measures 33 x 46 cm and is signed at the lower left. It is presented in its original Napoleon III period lacquered frame. The overall framed size is 55 x 68 cm.

While the original frame, with minor wear and tear is gorgeous, a lighter, gilded period frame would be available if you felt this would better suit our interior - please feel free to enquire.