Félix-François Georges Ziem (1796-1875 · French), Embarquement à bord de gondole à Venise (Boarding the Gondola to Venice). photo courtesy M.S.Rau Antiques

Signed "Ziem 04" (lower left). Oil on panel. Panel: 15 1/2" high x 24" wideFrame: 22 1/2" high x 31 3/8" wide - Price: $98,500

The city of Venice was a favorite subject for French artist Félix-François Georges Ziem. A member of the Barbizon School, Ziem's paintings reflects the groups' ideals of realism by using the contrast of light and shadow to bring his compositions to life.

Ziem originally planned to become an architect until "disciplinary" problems caused him to loose his scholarship to the Academie d'architecture of Dijon in 1841. Upon his dismissal, he decided to embark on a journey to Rome, on foot. It was during this time that his hobby of painting became his life's work. He executed hundreds of sketches of the lands he came across, many times selling or trading them for food. No other city struck him as did Venice, with its network of waterways and outstanding architecture-he immediately fell in love. Ziem's infatuation with the city would last throughout his career, and would become the subject of his most desirable and striking paintings.

He would return to Venice again in 1845, this time spending three years sketching the city from nearly every possible angle. Ziem completed several paintings upon his return to France and submitted them to the 1849 Paris Salon with great success. He continued to exhibit at the Salon until 1868, then again from 1888 until his death. His work made him one of the most sought artists of his day, so much so that he was honored, in 1864, to have under his tutelage then Princess (later Queen) Victoria. In 1857, Ziem was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, rising to the rank of Officer in 1878.

Artists Museums: Louvre, Paris
Musée d'Orsay, Paris
Musée des Beaux-Arts, Bordeaux
The Hermitage, St. Petersburg
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Art Institute of Chicago

M.S. RAU ANTIQUES. www.rauantiques.com