Gustave Caillebotte

Estate of the artist
Private Collection, Paris
Thence by descent to the previous owner

Singapore, Opera Gallery, Masterpieces. The Ultimate Collection, 2007, illustrated in colour in the catalogue

Marie Berhaut, La Vie et l'œuvre de Gustave Caillebotte, Paris, 1951, no. 201
Marie Berhaut, Gustave Caillebotte: Sa Vie et son œuvre. Catalogue raisonné des peintures et pastels, Paris, 1978, no. 249, illustrated p. 165
Ghislaine Deleau, Les Peintres et le Val-d'Oise, Paris, 1992, illustrated in colour p. 21
Marie Berhaut, Gustave Caillebotte: Catalogue raisonné des peintures et pastels, Paris, 1994, no. 260, illustrated p. 171

The canvas is not lined. There is a line of scattered spots of retouching to the upper edge between the two trees and another short line of scattered spots of retouching to the top right edge.There is a small paint loss to the top right corner and a small spot of retouching to the centre left through the trees. All retouching is visible under UV light. This work is in good condition.
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Gustave Caillebotte was both a painter and a patron of the arts, collecting many works from the Impressionist painters, many of whom were among his close friends. The views of Petit Gennevilliers and Argenteuil were earlier painted by a number of great impressionist masters in the 1870s, such as Monet, Renoir and Alfred Sisley.  

Caillebotte made a number of paintings from the landscapes around Petit Gennevilliers and Argenteuil, which became his main residence during the later years of his life. Situated between the countryside and the suburbs of Paris, this small town held great pleasure for Caillebotte, mainly because of his passion for sailing. He often visited the town with his brother Martial and took part in the sailing competitions. He later became the vice president of the local sailing club Cercle de la Voile.

Promenade d'Argenteuil painted in 1883, shows the significant change in Caillebotte's style during these years. While particularly known for his avant-garde style in depicting the modern everyday scenes of Paris, he later abandoned this style. The landscapes he painted from Argenteuil depict a sense of serenity and peacefulness. This particular painting illustrates the promenade alongside the river. Unlike the busy Paris scenes, the work is characterised by a sense of abandonment, the emptiness of the centre of the composition bounded by wind swept trees.