Villas at Trouville

Villas at Trouville is an oil painting by the French artist Gustave Caillebotte (1848–1894), dated 1884 and held by the Cleveland Museum of Art ^[3]. The work depicts a dramatic view of the blue-green sea, illuminated by a cloud-dappled sky, seen from one of the cliffs of Trouville, a popular resort town on the Normandy coast in northern France ^[3]. The brick villas in the foreground, just outside the center of the town, offered homeowners a private shoreline retreat ^[3].

The artist: Caillebotte as painter, patron, and sailor

Caillebotte was a French painter who was a member and patron of the Impressionists, although he painted in a more realistic manner than many others in the group ^[1]. He was known for his early interest in photography as an art form ^[1]. Because of his family's wealth, he was a patron of many of his fellow Impressionists ^[1]. Upon his death, his bequeathed collection of their works became the central collection of Impressionism for the French Republic, despite considerable controversy ^[1]. His most well known work is Paris Street; Rainy Day, known for qualities such as its mise-en-scène presentation ^[1]. Although Caillebotte has long been regarded for his philanthropy and support as a patron and promoter of Impressionism, he did not have an international retrospective of his work until 1994, 100 years after his death ^[1]. In addition to his career as an artist, Caillebotte was an award-winning sailor and designed his own racing sailboats ^[3].

Provenance: from Paris collections to the Keithley gift

The painting's recorded ownership chain begins with Paul Hugot, Paris, France, followed by J. Combes, Paris, France ^[3]. It then passed to Alexandre Tarnopol (1889–1983), New York, NY, and subsequently to his brother, Grégoire Tarnopol (1891–1979), New York, NY, by 1972 ^[3]. The work was later owned by Suzanne Delarbre, New York, NY, and sold at Christie's, New York, NY on November 15, 1989, lot 364 ^[3]. From there it went to the Montgomery Gallery, San Francisco, CA, and then to Paul and Leslie Ridley-Tree, Santa Barbara, CA ^[3]. It was sold at Sotheby's, New York, NY on November 4, 2008, lot 58, to Nancy F. and Joseph P. Keithley, Cleveland, OH, who gave it to the Cleveland Museum of Art ^[3]. The museum's credit line records the work as the Nancy F. and Joseph P. Keithley Collection Gift ^[3]. The painting was included in the exhibition Impressionism to Modernism: The Keithley Collection ^[3].

Subject and date: Trouville and the Normandy coast

During the early 1880s, Caillebotte spent several summers on the Normandy coast where he painted, participated in sailing regattas, and visited friends ^[3]. The museum records the painting's date as 1884 ^[3]. The work's medium is oil on canvas, with unframed dimensions of 66 x 81.3 cm (26 x 32 in.) ^[3].

Frequently asked questions

Where is "Villas at Trouville" located?

The painting is held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it entered as part of the Nancy F. and Joseph P. Keithley Collection Gift ^[3].

What is the date of "Villas at Trouville"?

The Cleveland Museum of Art records the painting's date as 1884 ^[3]. During the early 1880s, Caillebotte spent several summers on the Normandy coast, where he painted and participated in sailing regattas ^[3].

What does the painting depict?

The painting depicts a dramatic view of the blue-green sea, illuminated by a cloud-dappled sky, seen from one of the cliffs of Trouville, a popular resort town on the Normandy coast in northern France ^[3]. The brick villas in the foreground, just outside the center of the town, offered homeowners a private shoreline retreat ^[3].