Flora in Monaco Monte-Carlo Seascape
FLORA IN A MONACO MONTE-CARLO SEASCAPE is a delicate work of art that shows the human figure in a beautiful and nostalgic Mediterranean landscape. Two strong influences in the artist's conception of this composition are the theme of figures imbedded in a landscape inspired by the Nicolas Poussin’s, 'Landscape with Hercules' Puskin Museum, Moscow circa 1649-51* and the technique used by the Japanese ink and brush (sumi-e) painter Sesshu Tōyō who was working in the 2nd. half of the fifteenth century. His technique, developed from contemporary Chinese painting, tried to depict the actions of everyday life and people going about their business set against the background of majestic landscapes. Matthew Moss shadows both painters in this vertical shaped panorama.
The artist's view of Monaco Monte-Carlo shows, in the upper left background, the mist-covered hills overlooking Monaco Bay and Cap-Martin. The landscape is dominated by the majestic Tête de Chien rock formation overlooking Monaco with, below, the Prince’s palace and the impressive walls of the ancient city that the artist has painted in tints of rich red and yellow ochre. We can see the Oceanographic museum, built into the massive cliff face with the sea beneath.
To the left is the Plage des Pêcheurs (fishermen’s beach) hidden beneath the rocks and the prison of Monaco. The beach is dominated by a wrecked timber fishing boat beached on the pebble-stoned strand being examined by curious fishermen. The five figures owe their inspiration to a watercolour sketch Matthew had painted many years previously on a visit to the island of Madeira.
This section of the composition is detached from main body of the composition by the ragged white-foamed waves beating powerfully against rocks that cut the left part of the painting. However, on the bottom right, below the cliff-dominated medieval Monegasque city is the early eighteenth century Fort Antoine. The cut stone fortification completes the composition being the backdrop to the figure of Flora the flower-crowned goddess of Spring and abundance dominating the foreground.
Rent it
Buy original
Buy original transparency
The Romance of Monte-Carlo are available for book illustrations, annual reports, paper and packaging, giftware, related products. You can license them in the following format: Original transparencies in 6 x 6 cm. (2¼ in.) format, high-resolution RGB drum scans on DVD or efficient and quick E-Mail or FTP upload.