The Pont Neuf in the snow, late 1920s by Albert Marquet ::

Details

Alternative title

La Pont Neuf sous la neige

Date

late 1920s

Media category

Painting

Materials used

oil on canvas

Dimensions

78.2 x 64.7 cm stretcher; 102.5 x 86.5 x 5.7 cm frame

Signature & date

Signed l.l., blue oil "Marquet". Not dated.

Credit

Purchased 1939

Location

Not on display

Accession number

6927

Copyright

Reproduction requests

Artist information

Albert Marquet

Works in the collection

1

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About

Circumspection and sobriety distinguish Albert Marquet from his fauvist colleagues and his friend Matisse. Unlike the latter, Marquet never felt the lure of exotic locations and subjects, let alone scorching colours. Instead he contented himself with a long series of unexceptional urban views, especially from the windows of his quayside studio in Paris. Of all the multifarious moods of this metropolis, he most savoured the quiet and grey. 'The Pont Neuf in the snow' is a perfect expression of Marquet's gift for painterly understatement. As for his inveterate interest in orderliness, that too is evidenced. Something of the silence, and everything of the chill composure, of a city in wintertime is apparent in this image. Seemingly executed with hardly a second thought or indecisive move, the image is realised in a single unity of tone that is reminiscent of Whistler. In contrast to many of his contemporaries, artists such as Marquet pursued a calmer, more reflective, vision of modernity.

AGNSW Handbook, 1999.

Exhibition history

Shown in 5 exhibitions

The Daily Telegraph exhibition of French and British modern art, National Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, 21 Aug 1939–17 Sep 1939

The Daily Telegraph exhibition of French and British modern art, Melbourne Town Hall, Melbourne, 16 Oct 1939–01 Nov 1939

The Daily Telegraph exhibition of French and British modern art, David Jones' Art Gallery, Sydney, Sydney, 20 Nov 1939–30 Dec 1939
An exhibition of French art at the National Art Gallery of New South Wales, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 04 Oct 1944–31 Oct 1944
French art from Australian collections, Queensland Art Gallery, South Brisbane, Jun 1959–Jul 1959
Favourites: Margaret Olley and Barry Humphries choose from Australian collections (2000), S.H. Ervin Gallery, The Rocks, 15 Jan 2000–27 Feb 2000
Favourites: Margaret Olley and Jeffrey Smart (2002), S.H. Ervin Gallery, The Rocks, 12 Jan 2002–24 Feb 2002

Bibliography

Referenced in 11 publications

Nicholas Chambers, The Sydney Modern Project. Transforming the Art Gallery of New South Wales, 'Between here and there: collecting and displaying modern and contemporary international art', Sydney, 2022, pp 142–57: p 151.
Renée Free, AGNSW Collections, 'The Western Heritage, Renaissance to Twentieth Century', pg. 108-172, Sydney, 1994, 143 (colour illus.).
Barry Humphries, Favourites: Margaret Olley and Barry Humphries choose from public and private collections, 'Introduction', pg. 4-5, Sydney, 2000, 4 (colour illus.), 5. Catalogue entry appears in inserted list to printed catalogue: Selections by Barry Humphries
Bruce James, Art Gallery of New South Wales handbook, 'Western Collection: Paintings and Sculpture', pg. 17-77, Sydney, 1999, 59 (colour illus.).
National Art Gallery of New South Wales, National Art Gallery of New South Wales Annual Report 1939, Sydney, 1939, 10 (illus.).
Margaret Olley and Jeffrey Smart, Favourites: Margaret Olley and Jeffrey Smart selections, Sydney, 2002. No catalogue numbers; Jeffrey Smart selection.
Queensland Art Gallery, French art from Australian collections, Brisbane, 1959.
Ross Steele, Art and Australia, 'French Impressions', pg. 87-93, Sydney, Spring 1984, 92 (colour illus.), 93.
Jill Sykes (Editor), Look, 'Battle of the new: Picasso and peers versus the pillars of the Australian art establishment', pg. 14-18, Sydney, Mar 2005, 17 (colour illus.).
An exhibition of French art at the National Art Gallery of N.S.W, Sydney, 1944. cat. no. 143
Editor Unknown (Editor), The Daily Telegraph exhibition of French and British modern art, Sydney, 1939. cat.no. 77

Provenance

The provenance of this work is under review and records will be updated as new details become available. The Gallery welcomes any information. Contact provenance@ag.nsw.gov.au

David Jones' Art Gallery, Sydney, Sydney/New South Wales/Australia, Purchased by the AGNSW from David Jones Art Gallery 1939. Purchased from 'The Daily Telegraph Exhibition of French and British Modern Art'.