Studio RT Ltd

Description

We are delighted to offer for sale this large marine oil on canvas by the artist Gustave de Breanski, who has signed the painting in the lower left hand corner. The painting depicts a Sussex lugger or wooden fishing boat, entering harbour past a wooden breakwater or jetty, with a white lighthouse at the end, and the chalk cliffs in the background. We are wondering whether this might be Newhaven in East Sussex, which has featured in other paintings by this artist, but the harbour has changed considerably since the 1880s. However, it is certainly one of the harbours along the coast of Kent or East Sussex.

GUSTAVE ADOLPHE DE BREANSKI, 1859-1899, is the younger brother of the famous Alfred de Breanski. Alfred's sons, Alfred Fontville de Breanski and Arthur A.W. de Breanski were also landscape painter.s Their sister Julia was also an artist. They were all prolific artists.

Gustave was born in Greenwich, London in the second quarter of 1859, the son of Leopold de Breanski born in 1810 and his wife Eugenie (1819-1974), who were both born in France. His father was a professor of languages. The family lived in Greenwich until after 1871, but by 1881, the were living in Cookham, Berkshire.

In 1884 Gustave married Annie Matilda Pyne, the granddaughter of the famous landscape painter James Baker Pyne 1800-1870. They had four children and another who died. Their sons were Gustave Adolphe b. 1885, Leopold Pyne, 1886 and Maximilian M. 1890. By the Census of 1891, they were back in London in Deptford, Greenwich. Sadly, at the very young age of 40, in October, 1899, Gustave died of pneumonia.

This is his obituary, found in the Kentish Mercury of 20th October, 1899.

'We also have to record the death of Mr. Gustave de Breanski, of 51 Ladywell Park, Lewisham, which took place on Thursday of lst week, from acute pneumonia, after an illness of only a few days. Mr. de Breanski, who was well-known as a talented artist whose metier lay chiefly in the direction of seascapes, was the son of the late Leopold de Breanski, a major in the French Army in the days of Louis Phillippe, afterwards for many years professor of languages at the Greenwick Preparatory School, on Royal Hill, and for some time connected with the scholastic establishment of the late Mr. John Bell at The Grove, Blackheath, where the subject of this notice was educated. Mr. Gustave de Breanski was born at Circus Lodge, Royal Hill, Greenwich, and from his youth showed a natural affinity for the practice of the profession which claimed his adult years, and which he practised with such success that, from time to time, his canvases have been honoured by places on the walls of the exhibitions of the Royal Academy, Society of British Artists, at the Crystal Palace, etc. Several of his pictures are now on view at the Palace, and others of his latest work are in the possession of Mr. A. H. Cozens oif Loampit Vale, Lewisham. Mr. de Breanski, who was only 39 (sic actually 40) leaves a widow - the niece of Mr. J. B. Pyne (incorrect, she was his granddaughter), the well-known landscape painter - and a young family. The funeral took place on Tuesday at Lewisham Cemetery, the mourners being his son, Gustave de Breanski, Alfred de Breanski and C. H. O. Pook (nephews) etc. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. Francis Chappell and Sons, of Lee-bridge and Catford.'

Gustave painted landscapes, highland scenes, marines and coastal views, although he specialised in marine and coastal. He painted similarly to his brother but in a broader and more impressionistic style.

He exhibited 8 paintings at the Royal Academy, 40 at The Royal Society of British Artists, 7 at The Royal Hibernian Academy, 4 each at The Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool and Manchester City Art Gallery, as well as at other exhibitions in London and the provinces. His exhibition history in London up to 1893 is listed in Gray's Dictionary.

Biographical details may be found in The Dictionary of British Artists, and The Dictionary of Victorian Painters by Christopher Wood. His auction results may be found at artprice.com (465 listings), findartinfo.com (163) and arcadja.com (263).

The painting is newly framed in a 3 1/2" gilt frame and is ready to hang.

Image size: 35 1/8 x 23 3/8 inches - 89.1cm x 59.4cm

Frame size: 42 1/4 x 30 1/2 inches - 107.35cm x 77.5cm

Medium: Oils on canvas

Condition: Very good There are two old repairs to the canvas, which is clean and taut. There is no craquelure or paint loss. The frame is new.