François Nardi (1861-1936) In The Old Port Of Marseille

The subtle and dancing touch of the great impressionist painters, magnificent colors, a documentary and anecdotal value with these fishing and trading ships moored in the Old Port of Marseille at the end of the 19th century for this oil on canvas by the Toulon painter François Nardi.
The work is made in oil on canvas, it is offered in a modern gilded frame which measures 52.5 cm by 45 cm and 34.5 cm by 27 cm for the canvas alone.
In its good original condition, (a light cleaning can be considered) it represents a schooner in the Old Port of Marseille, in the foreground on the right of the fishermen on their boat, and in the background the famous bell tower of Accoules in the Old Quarters of Panier.
The work is signed lower right.

Self-taught, he was noticed by Frédéric Montenard who gave him advice and encouraged him to go to Paris. After a stint at the Académie Julian (1887-1889) and the exhibition of his works at the Salon des artistes français, he quickly achieved success that transcended borders with his landscapes of the Mediterranean and Provence. At the beginning, he had similarities with Claude Monet, his contemporary, but seemed to be little influenced by the pictorial movements of his time. He nevertheless remained in a lineage close to the Impressionists. Returning to Toulon in 1909, he continued to paint until his death. His work includes more than 3,500 references, including paintings, oils on wood, watercolors and drawings.

With a style close to the Impressionists – François Nardi is often called the “painter of atmosphere, effects and deep waters”
His style is relatively constant from beginning to end, which does not prevent the existence of a certain diversity. His work is characterized above all by an attachment to the Mediterranean and Provence.
We find the movements of the sea, the harbor of Toulon, the sails, the fishing boats and the views of the squadron, the leaning pines, the calm coves. The ports are numerous, that of Toulon of course, but also those of Nice, Cannes, Cassis or Marseille. The landscapes, with their paths, its trees in bloom, its rivers, its houses are almost all located in the Toulon hinterland. Of the cities, he especially retains the steep streets, the squares, the markets, the facades and the bell towers of the churches.
Often painting the same places, he reproduces their changes with the effects of the mistral, clouds or sun, the morning or evening skies. He likes to lay on canvas the expanse of the sea, calm or choppy, as much as the shores with choppy waves or, on the contrary, peaceful and in which one can dive, often through the pines, into the depths of the water.
In Paris, his southern soul will be above all attracted by the Seine, with its bridges and boats, around the Île de la Cité and Notre-Dame. He has a predilection for the Place de la Concorde which he depicts from all angles, without forgetting those of the République or Pigalle.
In Venice, he takes pleasure in reproducing the play of light and shadow on the water and the facades in the canals. The sails of the bragozzi or the large ships, but also the gondolas often attract his interest.
Drawing is mainly part of François Nardi's apprenticeship, from his research on nature at the beginning and, later, as studies. His production of paintings is mainly between 1887 and 1909. Afterwards, because of his inconvenience in moving, the number of oils on wood and watercolors takes precedence over that of canvases. His work includes no less than 3,500 references.

Main exhibitions
Paris, Salon des artistes français

1889: Fishing boat in Provence (1988)
1890: The harbor of Toulon, mistral effect (1775); A Corner of the old port, in Toulon (1776)
1891: A Quay at sunset, Toulon (1229); The City of Toulon (1230)
1892: Mistral effect, morning (1273); Mistral and dust (1274)
1893: In Provence (road of the river of “lovers”)
1894: Foggy morning in the harbor of Toulon (1374); Landscape in Provence (1375)
1895: Daybreak (1423); A Corner of the Toulon Harbor (1424)
1896: Effect of gray weather in Provence, Toulon (1493)
1897: Toulon Harbor, effect of mistral (1252); Landscape in Provence, Toulon (1253)
1898: First days of autumn in Provence (1525)
1899: Magaud Bay at sunset, Provence (1469); Provence road in the sun (1470)
1900: Olive trees and road to Cap Brun, Toulon (986)
1901: A path in Provence (1527); Boat under repair, Toulon (1528)
1902: Transparencies of the sea (1231); Olive Trees in Provence (1232)
1903: The Grand Canal in Venice (1332)
1904: The Old Port of Toulon (1345)
1905: Sanary through the Pines and Olive Trees, Provence (1409)
1906: On the Heights of Bormes, Provence (1243)
1907: The Market on Place Saint-Jean, Toulon (1196)
1908: Cap Brun, Toulon (1363)
1909: In the Old Port of Marseille (1348)
1931: Transparencies of the Sea (Côte d'Azur) (1659)
Main exhibitions
Paris, Salon des artistes indépendants
1892: Four Views of Paris
1893: Mistral Effect, Evening; Study of the Sea, with Pine Branch; Calm morning on the coast (Provence); Magaud rocks; Entrance to the merchant port (Toulon); Forges and shipyards of La Seyne
1894: A Corner of the merchant port; A Corner of the harbor of Toulon; Le Mourillon seen from the coast; Morning effect, at l'Estaque; Tartanes at l'Estaque
1895: Outgoing tartan; Fort Saint-Louis, Toulon; Battleship in calm weather, harbor of Toulon; Market in Toulon; Guinguettes at Les Sablettes; Tartanes; Grey weather; Old farm at Sablettes
Other exhibitions
Bordeaux: Society of Friends of the Arts in 1892, then from 1894 to 1908 (except 1903)
Chicago (United States): Universal Exhibition of 1893 (French section not in competition), Mistral Effect, the morning harbor of Toulon
Florence (Italy): Società de Belli Arti in 1891 and 1892
Hyères: Society of Friends of the Arts, from 1913 to 1914, and from 1919 to 1915
Monaco: International Exhibition, from 1895 to 1913 (except 1897), 1920 and 1922
Nantes: 1894 to 1902, 1905, 1906
Nice: Society of Fine Arts in 1894, 1903, 1906, 1908, 1910, 1914 and 1921
Saint Petersburg (Russia): Palace of Fine Arts in 1901, Torpedo boats by mistral effect in Toulon harbor; First days of autumn in Provence; Magaud Bay at Sunset (Toulon area)
Toulon: Society of Friends of the Arts in 1903, 1906, 1909, 1911, and from 1923 to 1936
Toulouse: from 1893 to 1903 (except 1897), and from 1906 to 1909
Posthumous exhibitions
Paris: Salon of French Artists in 1937, Pine on the Sea and Cliff (no. 953)
Toulon: Society of Friends of the Arts in 1937, honorary panel
Toulon: Municipal Museum of Fine Arts in 1984, François Nardi
Hyères: Municipal Museum of Palm Trees in 1986, François Nardi. From Venice to Paris
Toulon: Maritime Museum in 1986, François Nardi. Toulon harbor
Toulon: Marine Museum in 1989, François Nardi. The sea, the ports, Provence
Hyères: Municipal Museum Les Palmiers in 1994, François Nardi in Provence

Works by François Nardi in public collections

 La Valette du Var Town Hall: The Pont Sainte-Cécile, in La Valette (study of trees); Oratory of La Valette, backlit; Chemin de Tourris, with group of three cypresses, aloe on the left without flower stem, in the afternoon; Chemin du Coudon (two cypresses close up, with gap in the wall); Le Coudon and the olive trees (La Baume in autumn) (oils on wood); La Chapelle Sainte-Cécile, in La Valette; La Valette, through the olive trees, around 1920; Route de la Valette, on red earth, omnibus, mountain background (watercolours)
 Musée de la Marine, Paris: Escadre en rade, effet de mistral
 Musée de la Marine, Toulon: Torpedo boats by mistral effect in Toulon harbor; Squadron in the harbor of Toulon, foggy effect; Squadron in the harbor of Toulon, cloudy effect in the morning
 Jules-Cheret Museum of Fine Arts, Nice: A Path in Provence
 Municipal Museum of Fine Arts, Toulon: The Harbor of Toulon: mistral effect
 Museum of Old Toulon, Toulon: The City of Toulon
 Gassendi Museum, Dignes: Effect of gray weather in Provence (Toulon)
 Municipal Museum Les Palmiers, Hyères: The City of Hyères (from the belt, pines in the foreground), in 1895 (watercolor)
 National Museum, Monaco: Landscape in Provence
 Simu Museum, Bucharest (Romania): The Grand Canal in Venice
 Ziem Museum, Martigues: The Cliff of Sainte-Marguerite