Eugène Boudin, 'Brussels Harbour', 1871
About the work
Overview
During the Franco-Prussian War in the winter of 1870–71, Boudin left Paris to avoid the fighting. But unlike his friend Monet, who went to England, he based himself in Brussels. He was no doubt encouraged by his art dealer telling him there was a ready market for his marine scenes in Belgium.
While he was in Brussels, Boudin produced a number of paintings of the fishmarket, the canals and the small commercial port. The harbour was not particularly busy, and this must have suited Boudin, who generally preferred tranquil ports to bustling industrial ones. Here he stresses the picturesque quality of the buildings, barges and small boats, calmly at anchor. The receding lines of the masts lead us along the channel and into depth. The predominantly grey palette is relieved by a few touches of red and yellow. Unlike Boudin’s beach scenes, human presence is implied rather than shown.
Key facts
Details
- Full title
- Brussels Harbour
- Artist
- Eugène Boudin
- Artist dates
- 1824 - 1898
- Date made
- 1871
- Medium and support
- oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 42 × 65 cm
- Inscription summary
- Signed; Dated
- Acquisition credit
- Bequeathed by Helena and Kenneth Levy, 1990
- Inventory number
- NG6530
- Location
- Not on display
- Collection
- Main Collection
- Frame
- 20th-century Replica Frame
Provenance
Additional information
This painting is included in a list of works with incomplete provenance from 1933–1945; for more information see Whereabouts of paintings 1933–1945.
Text extracted from the National Gallery’s Annual Report, ‘The National Gallery Report: April 1990 – March 1991’.
Bibliography
-
1973R. Schmit, Eugène Boudin 1824-1898, Paris 1973
-
1991National Gallery, The National Gallery Report: April 1990 - March 1991, London 1991
-
2001
C. Baker and T. Henry, The National Gallery: Complete Illustrated Catalogue, London 2001
About this record
If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.