Studio RT Ltd

Description

We are delighted to offer for sale this atmospheric watercolour by the artist Paul Marny, who has signed the painting Paul Marny in the lower left hand corner. It is entitled verso Troyes, Seine. The painting depicts a view of Troyes Cathedral, with mediaeval buildings along the banks of the River Seine in the foreground. There is a bridge with two arches spanning the Seine, which has a turret and some dwellings on top of it. The Cathedral of St. Pierre and St. Paul stands near the river which its square belfry tower to the right and to the left the spires supported by flying buttresses above the circular chapels behind the altar. This same scene was also painted by Turner, some years before.

Troyes is a town in the Grand Est region of northeastern France. Its medieval old town features narrow, cobbled streets lined with colorful, half-timbered houses, mostly dating from the 16th century. The town is home to several Gothic churches with striking stained-glass windows. These include the Troyes Cathedral, the Église Sainte-Madeleine and the Basilique Saint-Urbain.

PAUL MARNY was born in Paris and worked there for some years, possibly as a painter and decorator for Sevres, before moving to Belfast to join a French architect. He was persuaded to move to Scarborough in 1860 by Oliver Sarony, the photographic pioneer. He visited France from time to time, but remained living in Scarborough. Although not making much money at first, his work came to the attention of a local art dealer John Linn in 1878, who made an arrangement to take all of his paintings, in return for a stipend of £5 per week.

Paul Marny was married to his French wife Claire F. who was born in 1848, who also died in 1914. They had no children, but in the three census listings we have found for them, always appear to have had a servant. They lived in 1871 at Oliver Villa, Falsgrave, Scarborough, by 1901, 12 Royal Avenue Scarborough and by the 1911 Census, at 30 Westbourne Grove, an 8 roomed house, although Paul apparently died at 71 Westborough on 24th October, 1914,, where presumably he was visiting. He was still painting in 1911, as stated on the Census. According to Probate records from 1914, he left £70 0s 7d to a Professor of Music by the name of John Owen Williams, so presumably Claire had died before him.

He painted many scenes of France and the Continent, largely from memory and local scenes in Yorkshire, always in watercolour.

Biographical details for this artist may be found in The Dictionary of British Artists, The Dictionary of Victorian Painters by Christopher Wood, Mallalieu's Dictionary of British Watercolour Artists, and Grant Waters' Dictionary of British Artists.

Paul Marny was a very prolific artist and auction results achieved for his work may be found at artprice.com (689 listings) and at findartinfo.com (237), artnet.com (153+) and arcadja.com (358).

The painting is newly framed in a 2 inch rope twist dark gilt frame with black line. The watercolour has not been mounted due to its size. It is will be supplied with new brass hangers, new brass picture wire and will be ready to hang.

Image size: 29 1/8 x 19 1/4 - 74cm x 48.9cm

Frame size: 33 1/8" x 23 1/8 - 84.15cm x 58.7cm

Medium: Watercolours on paper with scratching out.

Condition: Excellent. There is no foxing or fading. The frame is new.