'The Old Port of Cannes' French School (circa 1950s)

'The Old Port of Cannes', gouache on art paper, French School (circa 1950s). A charming depiction of le vieux port of the city of Cannes. At the top of the elevation, is Le Suquet, which is the old quarter of Cannes, probably best known to visitors as the climbing, winding cobbled lane lined with local restaurants, Rue St Antoine. Le Suquet contains a clock tower and church that sit high facing east overlooking the Bay of Cannes and Cannes itself. At the bottom of Le Suquet is the Marché Forville, where the market is held in the mornings and early afternoon. In the 1950s, Cannes was a quieter place, more fishing village than glamorous destination of the French Riviera. Longtime resident, Somerset Maugham, coined the memorable description of the Riviera as a "sunny place for shady people". Originally a winter destination, the Riviera became as it is known today when resident American couple, the Murphys, convinced the owner of the Hotel du Cap Eden-Roc to keep it open for the summer. Pioneering sunbathing, Coco Chanel helped popularise it as a beach destination by returning to Paris bronzed after a summer at her Riviera villa. The rest is history. Famous residents included Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, Cole Porter, Rudolph Valentino, Harpo Marx, Dorothy Parker and Pablo Picasso.

This artwork is in good overall condition and has been newly framed and glazed with anti-reflective glass. It is signed, but the artist's name is difficult to decipher. The best guesstimate is: 'Francis Dumoulain'. 

Dimensions with frame:

H 37.5 cm / 14.8"

W 44 cm / 17.3"

Dimensions without frame:

H 21.8 cm / 8.6"

W 29 cm / 11.4"