Emile Noirot (1854 -1924) - Venice, San Marco Basin

Oil on canvas. 53 x 30 cm. Signed lower right.

This painting by Émile Noirot delicately captures a panoramic view of Venice on a bright, tranquil day. The scene is dominated by the shimmering waters of the Venetian lagoon, across which a small sailboat glides, its white sail brilliantly catching the light.

In the background, the iconic outlines of the floating city are clearly distinguishable, particularly the silhouette of the Campanile of St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace, evoking the distinctive architecture of La Serenissima. The city here appears bathed in a soft, almost misty light, lending the canvas a gentle and timeless atmosphere.

The sky occupies a large portion of the composition, with textured touches of pink, white, pale blue, and pearly grey, reflecting the changing natural light and atmospheric effects. Noirot employs a luminous and soothing color palette: aquatic blues and greens blend with touches of white, beautifully rendering the reflections on the water and the foam of the rippling waves. The artist adopts an intentionally Impressionist brushwork.

Émile Noirot was first trained by his father, Louis Noirot, and later by François Louis Français, Charles Daubigny, and Alexandre Cabanel. He studied at the Académie Julian in Paris and spent time in the studio of sculptor Emmanuel Frémiet. He also received guidance from Auguste Ravier and was appointed painter to the French Ministry of the Navy.

In 1881, he left Paris and the Forest of Fontainebleau, becoming an enthusiastic pioneer of art in the Roanne region. His compositions are admired for both their technique and the emotion they convey, whether depicting the serene landscapes of the Loire Valley, the mountains of Auvergne or Savoie, the sunlight in Fontainebleau Forest, vibrant Mediterranean scenes, wild seascapes, or the wonders of Italy. His works can be found in numerous public buildings throughout the Roanne area.

He exhibited at the Paris Salon, then at the Salon des Artistes Français from 1889 onward. He also showed his work in Saint Petersburg, London, Brussels, Venice, Chicago, Antwerp, Mulhouse, and other cities. He received recognition at the 1889 Exposition Universelle, a third-class medal in 1891, a first-class medal in 1893, and a bronze medal at the 1900 Exposition Universelle. In 1902, he was named a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour.

Émile Noirot is represented in the collections of several museums, including the Fine Arts Museums of Lyon, Toulon, and Roanne, as well as the Musée d'Orsay.