Charles Malfroy (1862-1939) Martigues, The House With The Gendarme Hat

Martigues, the famous Venice of Provence, one of the favorite subjects of Provençal artists and the great source of inspiration of Charles Malfroy who, like his friend Félix Ziem, lived there and masterfully represented it many times.
The work is offered in a beautiful Louis XIV style frame with a gilded patina that measures 81 cm by 70 cm and 65 cm by 54 cm for the canvas alone. It represents fishermen on the quay in front of the famous Maison au Chapeau de Gendarme on the Quai Poterne which was the setting for the filming of the film "La Cuisine au Beurre".
In good condition, the work is signed lower left. born in Lyon on May 27, 1862 and died in Kremlin-Bicêtre on July 21, 1939.
Charles Malfroy is in the post-impressionist line of Jean-Baptiste Olive. Attracted by the light of the Mediterranean ports, he excelled in views of the Côte d'Azur and the Bouches-du-Rhône, in particular the port of Martigues and the various ports around the Etang de Berre, Istres, Port de Bouc etc. He also painted some paintings of Venice. He demonstrated virtuosity in atmospheric effects with a talent for color. He exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Français in 1894 a seascape entitled "En Provence"