Artwork
Ship by Moonlight
Ship by Moonlight is an oil painting by Ivan Aivazovsky. It dates from 1868 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a marine artwork, it represents the maritime theme through the specific inclusion of a ship and the Moon as its primary visual elements.
The painting depicts a solitary ship navigating under the light of the Moon, a composition that defines its marine genre. Created by Ivan Aivazovsky in 1868, the work centers on the interplay between the vessel and the celestial body illuminating the seascape. As a marine artwork, it represents the maritime theme through the specific inclusion of a ship and the Moon as its primary visual elements.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1868, Ship by Moonlight is an oil painting on canvas by Ivan Aivazovsky. The work measures 15.9 cm in height and 23.5 cm in width, characterizing it as a small-scale marine piece. Stylistically, the composition focuses on a ship illuminated under moonlight, a subject matter consistent with the artist's specialization in maritime scenes.
The application of oil paint on a fabric support allows for the rendering of the luminous atmospheric effects typical of the genre.
History & Provenance
Ship by Moonlight was created in 1868 by the Russian marine painter Ivan Aivazovsky. Executed in oil on canvas, the work measures 15.9 by 23.5 centimeters. The painting depicts a ship illuminated by moonlight, a recurring motif in the artist's oeuvre.
It is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, where it remains part of their permanent holdings of marine art.
Ship by Moonlight is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work, created in 1868, is an oil painting on canvas measuring 15.9 cm in height and 23.5 cm in width. While the artwork is part of the museum's permanent holdings, the provided records do not list specific inventory accession numbers or detail any past exhibition history for this piece.
Overview
Ivan Aivazovsky's 1868 oil painting, Ship by Moonlight, exemplifies his specialization in marine subjects. The work captures a vessel navigating a turbulent sea under the intense glow of a full moon, a motif frequently explored by the artist. This piece showcases his characteristic ability to render dramatic nocturnal seascapes, creating a sense of both grandeur and motion.
Context
Born in Crimea in 1817 to Armenian parents, Ivan Aivazovsky developed his artistic skills at the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg. His subsequent travels in Italy further refined his craft. As the principal painter for the Russian Navy, Aivazovsky dedicated his career to depicting naval scenes and the sea, establishing his studio primarily in his hometown of Feodosia.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky (Russian: Иван Константинович Айвазовский; 29 July 1817 – 2 May 1900) was a Russian Romantic painter who is considered one of the greatest masters of marine art.
