'Olive Grove Beneath the Hills of Provence' by Mario Passarelli (circa 1980s)

'Olive Grove Beneath the Hills of Provence', oil on canvas, by Mario Passarelli (circa 1980s). A sun-struck Mediterranean landscape is built from thick, restless strokes of loaded paint. Twisted olive trunks rise from a hillside of ploughed red earth, their silvery-green crowns catching the light, while violet and slate-blue hills roll away beneath a turquoise sky. In the foreground, a band of green and ochre scrub, reminiscent of the Esterel, is laid in with quick, vertical flicks of the artist's brush. Passarelli works firmly in the Post-Impressionist tradition, and the link to Van Gogh's Provençal olive groves is unmistakable in the rhythmic, directional brushwork, the heavy impasto, and the way colour carries the structure of the picture. Warm earth tones sit against cool blues and greens, a contrast giving the painting both warmth and freshness. The artist signed the artwork in the lower left. It is in good overall condition and has been elegantly framed with a linen slip. Upon request a video will be provided.

Dimensions with Frame:

H 65 cm / 25.6"

W 84 cm / 33.1"

Dimensions without Frame:

H 54 cm / 21.3"

W 73 cm / 28.7"

About the Artist: Mario Passarelli (born 1930) is a painter of the south of France, best known for his views of Provence and the Mediterranean coast, including the harbours of Cassis, Bandol and Saint-Tropez and the red rocks of the Esterel. His work, rooted in the Post-Impressionist tradition, is regularly offered at French auction.