Artwork
The Gate of St. Cloud, Paris
The Gate of St. Cloud, Paris is an oil painting by the Fauvist artist Albert Marquet. It dates from 1904 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The composition emphasizes planar recession and a muted palette of greys, blues, and ochres, typical of his early-20th-century Parisian cityscapes.
The work is executed in oil paint on canvas, reflecting Marquet’s characteristic handling of the medium with fluid, translucent layers that modulate light and atmosphere. The composition emphasizes planar recession and a muted palette of greys, blues, and ochres, typical of his early-20th-century Parisian cityscapes. The gate structure and foliage are rendered with broad, simplified forms and restrained detail, subordinated to the overall tonality and rhythmic horizontals of the Seine embankment.
The paint is applied in thin, even glazes that preserve the weave of the canvas support, contributing to the luminous quality of the scene.
History & Provenance
The Gate of St. Cloud, Paris is held in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland, Ohio. The work carries the museum's accession number 1961.263. It was created by Albert Marquet in 1904.
The painting is an oil on canvas landscape measuring approximately 60.7 cm in height and 81.2 cm in width. It depicts a scene made in France.
Legacy
The work entered the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed as part of the institution’s holdings of early modern French landscapes.
Measuring 60.7 cm in height and 81.2 cm in width, the oil on canvas occupies a modest yet distinctive presence.
Its placement within the museum’s collection reflects a sustained scholarly interest in Marquet’s contribution to landscape painting, ensuring the piece remains a reference point for studies of French artistic practice in the early twentieth century.
Overview
Albert Marquet, a French painter, created The Gate of St. Cloud, Paris in 1904. This oil painting captures a Parisian landscape and exemplifies his early association with the Fauvist movement, characterized by its distinctive use of bold color and form. The work is held in the collection of The Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a serene Parisian street scene, dominated by the large Gate of St. Cloud at its center. The gate is framed by trees and surrounding buildings, while a few figures are subtly visible in the distance. Marquet's composition conveys an atmosphere of calmness and tranquility, inviting contemplation of the urban environment.
Context
Marquet was an early figure in Fauvism and maintained a lifelong friendship with Henri Matisse. While The Gate of St. Cloud, Paris showcases the vibrant palette of his Fauvist period, Marquet later evolved towards a more subdued, Impressionistic style. However, his consistent focus on landscapes, particularly urban and waterside vistas, remained a defining characteristic throughout his artistic career.
Artist & collection
Artist
Albert Marquet (French pronunciation:; 27 March 1875 – 14 June 1947) was a French painter.
