148 - Jean-Baptiste Henri DURAND-BRAGER (1814–1879)

Jean-Baptiste Henri DURAND-BRAGER (1814–1879) Storm in Vigo Bay Oil on canvas Signed lower left Inscribed on the back: "French troops in.... Vigo (Spain)" 60 x 100 cm With frame: 96 x 135 cm Oil on canvas, signed lower left, noted on the back "French troops in.... Vigo (Spain)", 23.6 x 29.3 in, with frame: 37.7 x 53.1 in The notation "French troops in.... Vigo (Spain)", written on the reverse of the canvas, identifies the location depicted and places this seascape within the context of the research undertaken in 1869–1870 on the wrecks of the galleons sunk in the Vigo estuary during the naval battle of October 23, 1702, during the War of the Spanish Succession. Jean-Baptiste Henri Durand-Brager participated in this expedition, organized under the direction of engineer Ernest Bazin, which aimed to locate and recover the remains of the sunken ships. This undertaking, at the intersection of maritime exploration, nascent archaeology, and treasure hunting, encountered significant technical difficulties and winter weather conditions that were particularly unfavorable for operations at sea. The composition depicts a sailboat battling a heavily choppy sea, while the coastline is visible in the background beneath a stormy sky. The movement of the swell, the foaming crests, and the somber tone of the atmosphere highlight the challenges of navigation in the bay. The contrast between the turbulent waters and the partially illuminated coastline structures the pictorial space and underscores the power of the elements. Durand-Brager’s participation in the expedition lends this work particular documentary significance. It invites us to connect this maritime depiction with the artist’s firsthand experience in Vigo Bay during the early modern attempts to explore and recover its historic shipwrecks. The topographical notation on the reverse serves, in this regard, as a significant material clue for identifying the subject.