Italian School of the Second Half of the 19th Century

Italian school of the second half of the 19th century.
“Scene at the Harbor.”
Oil on canvas.
Signed (F. Morelli) in the lower right corner.
Period frame.
Measurements: 36 x 58.5 cm; 53 x 73 cm (frame).
The work depicts an urban landscape, centered on the seashore and the humble boats and skiffs found there. The composition conveys a sense of calm thanks to the few waves on the water and their lines, and the limited movement depicted is conveyed by the presence of two fishermen on the right and the small waves along the shore on the left. While it is clear that the artist sought to depict the landscape and the influence of light on the objects, the work does not strictly follow the tenets of Impressionism; rather, it shows a clear connection to certain innovations introduced by the avant-garde art movements that emerged in France toward the end of the 19th century.