Portofino Marina, Mid-20th Century
Portofino Marina, Mid-20th Century
Ernest Audibert
oil on canvas
40 x 29 inches
Framed 43 × 33.5 inches
Signed lower right
#007007
Ernest Audibert’s marina and harbor paintings are among the most beloved and commercially successful parts of his body of work. This piece is a pertinent example of this, as he captures Portofino with style and vibrancy, capturing the sunny, vibrant atmosphere of the Mediterranean coast. An oil on canvas, employing a thick impasto technique with expressive, visible brushstrokes. This gives his marina scenes a textured, almost sculptural quality that makes the water shimmer and the boats feel alive. His palette is characteristically bold and joyful: saturated blues and turquoises for the sea and sky, warm terracotta and ochre for buildings, and bright pops of red, yellow, and white on boats and sails. The style sits between post-impressionism and a more accessible, decorative figurative approach. Light plays a central role, with the strong Mediterranean sunlight reflecting off the water and creating strong shadows, while the overall mood remains optimistic and inviting rather than moody or dramatic. The piece is signed by the artist lower right, and it comes housed in a modern gold leaf frame with linen liner and hanging wire on verso ready to be displayed.
