Orientalist landscape painting by the French painter Henri Duvieux, boats on the Bosphorus with a view of Istanbul.
This finely executed painting by Henri Duvieux (1855–1902) depicts an atmospheric view of Istanbul across the Bosphorus, presumably in the early morning hours. In the foreground, small boats rest on a sandy shore, while in the distance, the city's silhouette emerges with minarets, domes, and soft veils of light. Duvieux captures the special atmosphere between water, sky, and architecture in his characteristic style—restrained in color, yet rich in depth and detail.
The work was probably created around 1880 and is a typical example of Duvieux's ability to combine topographical precision with painterly sensitivity. The richly decorated frame, preserved in its original form, underscores the historical character of the painting.
Condition: Very good, with vivid colors and a sturdy surface.
A special piece of 19th-century Orientalist landscape painting for connoisseurs and collectors—exclusively at ART FLAGEY.
About the artist:
Henri Duvieux (1855-1902)
Henri Duvieux was a French painter of the late 19th century who specialized in Orientalism, cityscapes, and seascapes. Born in France, he was closely associated with the artistic milieu of the Paris Salon, where he exhibited several times between 1880 and 1895. Duvieux made his debut at the Paris Salon in 1880 with views of Venice and Constantinople.
Duvieux was one of those artists who, in the wake of Europe's fascination with the Orient—inspired by travel, literature, and archaeology—developed his own painterly image of the Eastern Mediterranean.
Duvieux found his preferred subjects primarily in Istanbul, the Bosporus, Venice, North Africa, and port cities of the Levant. He likely traveled to these regions personally or worked based on contemporary travel sketches and photographs. His works are characterized by their delicate use of light, a sure sense of architectural structures, and atmospheric transitions between sky, water, and cityscape. His paintings combine romantic realism with a poetic, almost meditative visual language. Duvieux uses impressionistic colors similar to Turner's seascapes to depict intense light and brilliant sunsets and sunrises.
Today, his works are rarely found in the art market, but are highly valued among collectors and lovers of Orientalism—not least for the historical authenticity and painterly quality that distinguish Duvieux's paintings.
