Jean-Baptiste Le Prince

With David Wade Fine Art, Yorkshire;

Where acquired.

This picture, signed and dated 1773, was painted in the mature phase of Jean-Baptiste Le Prince's career after the artist had returned to Paris from Russia, where he had journeyed in 1758 in order to work for Catherine the Great (1729–1796) at the Imperial Palace. Le Prince remained in Russia for five years and also travelled extensively throughout Finland, Lithuania and even Siberia, before heading back to his native France in 1763. According to Mariette, Le Prince had left France a mediocre artist, but had come home a master. Indeed, in February 1764, the artist presented himself to the Académie Royale, where he was received as a member on 23 August 1765.

This composition attests to Le Prince's achievements in this regard: the flurry of activity in the foreground, where a group of fishermen can be seen laying down their nets, is masterfully balanced by the calm, powder blue tones of the sky, as well as the pale pink accents that highlight the clouds.