Studio RT Ltd

Description

We are delighted to offer for sale this brilliantly executed oil on canvas by the Belgian marine artist Ronny Moortgat, who has signed the painting in the lower right hand corner. The painting depicts The Grand Canal in Venice, with the Church of Santa Maria della Salute almost in the centre, with the Dogana or Customs House to its left with the golden ball on top of it. The white building to the far right hand side houses the Guggenheim Collection.

The artist has captured the scene in exquisite detail, showing the Canal Grande in all its bustling splendour, with motor launches, a vaporetto and a gondola. On the left hand side are the palazzos, with their landing stages and ornate balconies with blinds and the striped poles to which the gondolas are moored.

Ronny Moortgat was born in Niel in Belgium in 1951 and grew up on the banks of the River Schelde. The family had connections with river boats and his father was in shipping. He was persuaded by his parents to obtain qualifications for a sensible career, he trained as a draughtsman. After receiving his Diploma, he spent 6 years at art school, where, as well as drawing and painting, he learnt etching and printing.

His main subject interest is maritime, although he also paintins landscapes and still life in the style of the old Flemish masters which reflects his tutelage under Willem Dolphyn. He works from nature and in his studio and sometimes uses photographs to confirm details of ships. He also does bronzes mainly of fish.

His work was purchased by the National Maritime Museum of Antwerp in 1996 and he has been commissioned by the City Council of Hoboken, the Port of Rotterdam and his work appears in private collections throughout Europe, the USA and Great Britain. In 1995 he was elected a Member of the Belgian Society of Marine Artists.

From 1996 onwards he has exhibited annually in London at The Mall Galleries and at W. H. Patterson Fine Art, now Gladwell Patterson.

From 1999 onwards he has exhibited annually at The Royal Society of Marine Artists and was elected an Associate Member of this organisation in 2004. In their 2012 exhibition he was asked, along with two other artists, to exhibit a work celebrating the Queen's Jubilee.

In 2001 his work was selected for an exhibition of Maritime Artists in Paris and in 2007 he showed at a Maritime Artists exhibition in Shanghai.

In 2006 he was given an Award by the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights.

He is listed in The Dictionary of Seapainters by E. H. Archibald and the Royal Society of Marine Artists' book in 2005.

There are several paintings by this artist on google for sale at a gallery which are smaller than this one and are priced at £2,500.

The painting is framed in a 3 1/4" gilt frame and coloured slip and will be supplied wired and ready to hang.

Image size 23 1/4" x 15 3/8" - 59cm x 39cm

Frame size 30 1/8" x 22 1/8" - 76.5cm x 56.2cm

Medium Oils on canvas

Condition Excellent condition as shown. The frame is also in excellent condition.