Venice; a Canal Scene (c. 1846-1911)

Félix Ziem prints glow with the light of Venice. Ziem was a French painter close to the Barbizon School, famous for his shimmering views of the Venetian lagoon, which he visited almost every year for half a century. This collection gathers art prints of his Venice sunsets and canals, views of Constantinople and North Africa, the harbor of Martigues, forest scenes from Barbizon and still lifes.

About Félix Ziem

Félix Ziem was born in Beaune, Burgundy, in February 1821, to a Burgundian mother and an immigrant father. He studied drawing and architecture at the École des Beaux-Arts in Dijon, then moved to Marseille in 1839, where he worked on the building of the Roquefavour aqueduct and received informal painting advice from Adolphe Monticelli. When the Duke of Orléans commissioned three of his watercolors in 1840, he devoted himself to painting.

In 1841 he traveled to Italy and fell in love with Venice, which became his main source of inspiration; he returned there almost every year until 1892. He also worked in Russia, all over Italy and the south of France, and from 1847 made trips to Constantinople, with a longer journey to the Ottoman Empire and Egypt in 1857–58.

Ziem first exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1849 and became a commercial success. He set up a studio at Martigues in 1860, painted at Barbizon from 1853, and later worked mainly in Nice and Paris. In 1910 he became the first living artist to have work enter the Louvre. He died in Paris on 10 November 1911.

Style and Subjects

Ziem painted light on water. His Venice pictures show the Doge's Palace, San Giorgio and the Grand Canal at sunset, with gondolas and sailing boats outlined against golden skies and glittering reflections. He used rich, warm color and loose, lively brushwork, and is often seen as a forerunner of Impressionism.

Beyond Venice he painted the minarets of Constantinople, ports and markets of the Orient, the canals of Martigues (which he helped make known as "the Venice of Provence"), the forests of Barbizon, the Camargue and his native Burgundy, along with still lifes and portraits.

Famous Works

• The Doge's Palace, Seen from the Grazia Canal (1850), Kreeger Museum, Washington. One of his early views of the heart of Venice.
• Constantinople (1855), Portland Art Museum. The city's domes and minarets seen across the water.
• A Windmill, Snow Effect (1855), Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle. A rare winter landscape.
• Venice: the Bacino di San Marco with Fishing Boats (1865), Wallace Collection, London. Boats on the lagoon in warm evening light.
• Venice: a Canal Scene (1878), National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin. A quiet Venetian canal.
• Venice: a Sailing Ship (1883), National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin. A sailing ship on the shimmering lagoon.

Decorating with Ziem Prints

Ziem's golden Venice sunsets bring warmth and a sense of travel to a living room, dining room or bedroom. Their ambers, roses and soft blues look wonderful in gilt frames and suit both classic and coastal interiors.

The views of Constantinople and North Africa add an exotic touch to a hallway or study, and the Martigues harbors and Barbizon forest scenes work well in a country kitchen or reading corner.

FAQ

What art movement was Félix Ziem part of?

Ziem worked in the style of the Barbizon School and also painted Orientalist scenes. He is often seen as one of the forerunners of Impressionism because of his interest in light and color.

What is Félix Ziem best known for?

He is best known for his luminous views of Venice, which he painted for over fifty years, especially the lagoon and the Doge's Palace at sunset.

Where can I see Ziem's original paintings?

The Musée Ziem in Martigues, founded in 1908, is dedicated to his work. His paintings are also in the Louvre and the Petit Palais in Paris, the Wallace Collection in London, the National Gallery of Ireland and many other museums.

How can you recognize a Félix Ziem painting?

Look for golden skies, glittering water, gondolas and sailing boats, and the domes and towers of Venice or Constantinople outlined against the light.

Why is Martigues linked with Ziem?

Ziem had a studio and house in Martigues from 1860 and painted its canals many times, helping give it the nickname "the Venice of Provence". The town's museum is named after him.

Related Artists

• Adolphe Monticelli — gave him informal painting lessons in Marseille
• Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot — leading landscape painter linked with the Barbizon circle
• Théodore Rousseau — central figure of the Barbizon School, where Ziem also painted
• Canaletto — the great earlier painter of Venice
• Eugène Boudin — French painter of skies and harbors, also seen as a forerunner of Impressionism