56 - Raoul Dufy

Raoul Dufy (French, 1877-1953) Vue de Naples, 1922 watercolor on board signed Raoul Dufy and located Naples (lower right); located again (on the reverse) sheet: 18 1/8 x 21 3/4 in. (46 x 55.2 cm) Property from The Estate of Arthur Schleifer, Jr., Boston, Massachusetts This lot is located in Philadelphia. Framed: 27 x 31 x 3 in. The watercolor is in overall fair condition. the paper is toned with light, time and mat staining. Colors are attenuated. There are some other scattered fox marks throughout, particularly along the top edge and at center right in the sky. There is a small, approx. 3/8 in. gouge to the paper at bottom left. There is a tiny loss to the paper at the bottom edge at left. Additional images available upon request. Fanny Guillon-Laffaille has kindly confirmed the authenticity of the present lot, which will be accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. A certificate of authenticity signed by Hervé Odermatt also accompanies the work. Provenance: Galerie Hervé, Paris, July 19, 1969. Acquired directly from the above by the present owner. Literature: Fanny Guillon-Laffaille, Raoul Dufy: Catalogue Raisonné des Aquarelle, Gouaches et Pastels, Paris, 1981-82, vols. I & II. Lot Note: Raoul Dufy travelled to Italy in the spring of 1922, visiting Florence and Rome before continuing to Sicily, where he was captivated by the intensity of Mediterranean light, ancient monuments, and vibrant landscapes. His Italian journey also inspired views of Naples, with its bustling harbor and colorful maritime life. In the present work, the city’s iconic Mount Vesuvius rises above the Bay of Naples, rendered in a few expressive, colorful lines that frame the numerous boats scattered across the water. Through this economy of line and the interplay of vivid colors, Dufy captures the lively atmosphere of the Mediterranean while anticipating the increasingly fluid, decorative style that would become the hallmark of his mature work.