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Oil on canvas, relined Greece, c. 1890 Constantinos Volanakis (1837-1907) - Greek marine painter, member of the "Munich School" Signed in Greek lower left 'K. Βολανάκης' (K. Volanakis) Verso with inscription by another hand (almost illegible) With report by Stavros Baltogiannis, Pangrati, dated 16/07/2001 Dimensions: 62 x 116 cm Frame: 90 x 141 cm Good condition Provenance: Private collection, Athens A sensitive work, typical of Volanakis' Greek period (1884-1907), accentuating the artist's great romantic feeling      Object is regular taxed. 19% VAT is added to the purchase price for deliveries within the EU.   This poetic depiction of a beach scene of Vólos is an impressive display of Constantinos Volanakis' superior skills in draftsmanship, composition and paint handling. When Volanakis decided to give up his well-established career in Munich to find a new home in Greece in 1883, he was first able to observe his home country in all its variety and to use it as a constant source of inspiration for his delicate seascape nuances and soft gradations of light and shade. The port and beach of Vólos belonged to his most favorite subjects, as also presented here in atmospheric light and pastel tones. We experience a similar feeling only in certain works by exceptional talents like Ivan Aivazovsky, while when compared to other Greek seascapists, such as Jean Altamoura or Emilios and Pavlos Prossalentis, Volanakis' romantic approach is even more pronounced (1). The artist's return to Greece coincided with the growth of modern shipping, the development of lively port cities and the gradual disappearance of sailing vessels (2). Volanakis managed to take up these new developments in his harbor scenes, emphasizing their character within a homogeneous whole (3). The present artwork can be considered a variation of a painting located in a private collection (4). In both paintings the center of the composition is occupied by the same type of sailing vessel, while the bay appears to be expelled from almost the same place in favor of the wide smoothed waters. (1) see S. Lydakis, Constantinos Volanakis [in Greek], Athens 1997, pp. 169-176. (2) see M. Vlachos: The Painter Constantinos Volanakis, Athens 1897, p. 125; T. Christou: Portscapes by Greek Artists from the Late 19th to the Mid-20th Century, in: The Ports of Hellenism, Aenaon publ., Athens 2004, p. 69. (3) see Lydakis, p. 196. (4) see Lydakis, p. 175, with ill. 104. Condition: The painting is in good condition, consistent with age and wear. The canvas is relined and the edges are covered with narrow strips of paper. There are faint marks with slight losses of paint, where the frame has rubbed. The paint surface is craquelured in the sky. Moreover, there are light pressure marks caused by the underlying stretcher. Inspection under UV light reveals scattered areas of tiny retouchings to the sky and the edges. The stretcher measures 62 x 116 cm. The gilt frame is in good condition, but has been restored and a few damages have been glued. The framed overall dimensions are 90 x 141 cm. Constantinos Volanakis (1837-1907) Constantinos Volanakis was born on the island of Crete and started a career as an accountant before he moved to Munich to study under Carl von Piloty (1826-1886) at the famous Academy of Fine Arts. After finishing his artistic training, Volanakis worked in Munich, Vienna and Trieste. In 1883 he finally returned to Greece and settled in Piraeus. Until 1903, he was to carry out a teaching position at the Athenian Academy of Fine Arts. A representative of the Munich School, Volanakis' oeuvre is characterized by an academic Realism. Moreover, his subjects were always inspired by the idyllic ports and coastal areas of the Adriatic Sea and of the Mediterranean. (cbo)   Shipping costs excl. statutory VAT and plus 2,5% (+VAT) shipping insurance.