4681

CARL LUDWIG BILLE

Denmark, 1815-1898

Vessels in calm seas.

Luminous and crisp work evocative of Fitz Henry Lane and Francis Silva, with three fishermen in a rowboat pulling in a net, a hermaphrodite brig at anchor, sandy cliffs on the horizon and a beautifully rendered sky with bands of pink and blue. Signed and dated lower left "Carl Bille 1869".
Oil on canvas, 36.5" x 53.5". Framed 45.5" x 62.75".
Condition: Relined. Although the painting presents well under natural light, UV light examination reveals areas of paint restoration, mostly in the top three inches of the painting, but also some small scattered spots elsewhere.

The absence of a condition report does not imply an object is free of defects. All items may have normal signs of age and wear commensurate with their age; these issues will likely not be mentioned in the condition report. Please contact Eldred's before the auction with any condition questions. Questions about condition will not be answered after purchase. Condition reports are provided as a courtesy, and we are not responsible for any errors or omissions. Important note on frames: Frames are not guaranteed to be in the same condition as they are in the item photograph. Due to handling and shipping, many frames, especially antique ones, are prone to losses. If you have questions about the condition of a frame, please contact us prior to the auction. 

  • Provenance:
    Allison Gallery, New York.
    Ritz Carleton Hotel, Kauai, Hawaii.

    Reference:
    Dictionary of Sea Painters by E.H.H. Archibald (England: Antique Collectors' Club Ltd., 1980), p. 67 describes the artist "Carl Ludwig Bille was born in Copenhagen; he was a sailor turned artist ... He developed a style which must have influenced Vilhelm Melbye (q.v.), whose work is very close. This made him popular with Scandinavian and British collectors."

    American Light by John Wilmerding (N.Y.: Harper & Row, 1980), p. 109 illustrates a similar 1853 painting by Fitz Hugh Lane, now in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

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August 11, 2023 9:30 AM EDT
East Dennis, MA, US

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