Alfred Sisley (1839-1899) French, "Canal Saint Martin" Lithographic Print on Board. Depicts the original 1870 work "View of the Canal Saint-Martin." First exhibited at the Paris Salon of 1870, it was acquired by Gaudoin or Pierre-Firmin (both art dealers), then bought by Dr Paul Gachet for 170 francs before 1883. Gachet's son owned it from 1909 onwards and donated it to the Louvre in 1951, and it now hangs in the Musée d'Orsay. The riverscape is one of the artist's most iconic, depicting a large expanse of the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris with warehouses and other buildings overlooking the canal on both sides and a number of moored boats at the quay. A pedestrian bridge across the canal can be seen in the distance, adding to the vast perspective. Signature and date of 1870 partially obscured by frame bottom right. Remnants of a label affixed on back. 

Provenance: Acquired in France in the mid 1970s. 

Overall Size: 26 1/2 x 22 in. 

Sight Size: 22 1/4 x 18 in. 

Alfred Sisley was born on October 30th, 1839 in Paris to affluent British parents, spending most of his life in France while retaining British citizenship. He initially studied business in London before returning to France to join the studio of Marc-Charles-Gabriel Gleyre alongside Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, becoming a foundational Impressionist painter who remained uniquely dedicated to en plein air landscapes throughout his entire career. Following the failure of his father’s business during the Franco-Prussian War Sisley spent the remainder of his life in poverty, finding little critical or financial success. His notable series of works on the River Thames, the Seine, Moret-sur-Loing, and many more are celebrated for their tranquil atmosphere and impressive depictions of the sky, and although his student works are lost and the Nazis looted numerous pieces during the 1940s Occupation, the vast bulk of his surviving works are now found prominently displayed in museums around the world. Sisley died from throat cancer, unaware of his future powerful impact on the art world, on January 29th, 1899.

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