Alexei Petrovich Bogoliubov

Original canvas. The surface is dirty and covered with a layer of slightly yellowed varnish. There is minor paint loss around the edges and some areas with fine lines of craquelure. The right side of the frame is missing. Under UV pigment fluoresces in the sky near the upper left corner. Held in a wooden frame. Unexamined out of frame.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Bogoliubov settled in France in the 1870s and often visited the coast of Normandy, attracted by its picturesque villages and the boundless sea. The harbour town of Le Tréport features often in his work from this period, and there are a number of parallels between the present work and Tréport Harbour during a Storm and Returning to the Tréport Harbour at High Tide (both 1876, The Saratov State Art Museum), for example the contrast of white clouds behind dark sails, the textured brushwork on the white water and the small figures toward the edge of the composition, which convey a sense of perspective and drama.