1 / 4

Description

WALTER RICHARD SICKERT (BRITISH 1860-1942), THE RIALTO BRIDGE

WALTER RICHARD SICKERT (BRITISH 1860-1942)THE RIALTO BRIDGEOil on canvasSigned (lower left)65.5 x 49.5cm (25¾ x 19¼ in.)Painted circa 1901.Provenance: Gaston Bernheim, ParisJacques Rodriguez-Henriques, Paris Sale, Sotheby's, London, 1 May 1991, lot 15Acquired from the above sale by the present ownerLiterature: Wendy Baron, Sickert Paintings & Drawings, New Haven and London, 2006, p. 263, no. 165 (illustrated)Sickert first visited Venice in 1894 with his wife Ellen. Although there is no record of him painting during this brief stay, he was known to have referred to it as the loveliest city in the world and it undoubtedly enthralled him as he was to return for more extended visits, inspiring him to paint some of his most important and critically acclaimed works.In May 1896 Sickert returned to Venice and took as his studio a flat at 940 Calle dei Frati, keeping it for all his subsequent visits. A few minutes' walk to the Accademia and Grand Canal, just north of the Zattere, Sickert visited and painted the famous buildings and sites of Venice, returning to the same spot on numerous occasions to repeat the process at different times of the day. Indeed, repetition was a key feature of Sickert's work in general but notably in his views of Venice and Dieppe. In Venice, he painted version after version of the façade and piazza at San Marco, the Santa Maria della Salute, the Rialto Bridge and the Scuola di San Marco. His dedication to revisiting the same locations echoes the architectural series of works produced by the Impressionists and, in particular bear comparison with Monet's series of paintings of Rouen Cathedral. However, unlike the Impressionists, he was not overly interested in recording the passing of time and light on his subject matter but rather to disentangle from nature the illumination that brings out most clearly the character of each scene. (W. Sickert, French Pictures, Knoedler's Gallery, Burlington Magazine, July 1923, pp.39-40).Consequently, Sickert's paintings were frequently executed in his studio from drawings and small oil sketches. He showed scant interest in the effect of changing atmospheric conditions. Instead, he used this repetition to explore variations in colour and tone, experimenting with the handling of paint and the different emotional responses that these variations provoked.The most important of these were a small number of pictures depicting Venice at nightfall. These are reminiscent of the works of his earlier teacher, James McNeill Whistler, who famously painted London and Venice at night, referring to them as Nocturnes or Symphonies. Whistler used musical terms in the title in order to appeal directly to the viewer's senses without the need for narrative or subject. This synthesis of individual artistic disciplines appealed to a deeper, more visceral emotion than mere aesthetics. Although Sickert does not use the same language as his master the intent is very similar.In the present work Sickert depicts the unmistakable site of the Rialto Bridge from the Grand Canal, however he is not exploring Canalettos's topographical splendour or indeed Monet's fleeting light dancing on the water and reflecting on the Palazzos; he is appealing directly to the viewer's senses. Through the carefully chosen colours and tones, he creates a deep emotional response that transcends the obvious beauty of the subject and in turn impels the viewer to look beyond the subject and reflect on his own personal reaction to the painting.It is not Sickert recording his experience before the subject, but rather it is the experience of standing before the painting itself and it is this that makes this work as contemporary today as it was when it was painted over 100 years ago in the loveliest city in the world.

92 
Go to lot
<
>

WALTER RICHARD SICKERT (BRITISH 1860-1942), THE RIALTO BRIDGE

Estimate 100 000 - 150 000 GBP
Starting price 100 000 GBP

* Not including buyer’s premium.
Please read the conditions of sale for more information.

Sale fees: 34.8 %
Leave bid
Register

For sale on Thursday 11 Jul : 10:30 (BST)
newbury, United Kingdom
Dreweatts
+441635553553
Browse the catalogue Sales terms Sale info

Delivery to
Change delivery address
Delivery is not mandatory.
You may use the carrier of your choice.
The indicated price does not include the price of the lot or the auction house's fees.