Charles Cottet (France, 1863-1925) oil on canvas post-impressionist painting depicting sailboats and a rowboat floating in front of a bustling European village, possibly in Brittany, rendered with delicate impasto. Signed "Ch. Cottet" lower right. Artist engraved on nameplate, lower center sight edge. Housed in an ornately carved giltwood and gesso frame with C-scroll and acanthus leaf decoration. Old label on the reverse from the firm of "J. Mondelli & Hermanos / Casa Introductoria de articulos de pintureria," a Buenos Aires purveyor of paintings, crystal and porcelain. Sight 26 1/4" H x 21" W. Framed: 39" H x 33 1/2" W. Biography: Charles Cottet was born at Le Puy-en-Velay. He studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, under Puvius de Chavannes and Roll, and the Academie Julian. He was the leader of a school of painters known as the Bande noire or Nubians – due to the somber palette chosen which contrasted other post-impressionist paintings – and was associated with the Les Nabis student group. Though he travelled to and painted in Egypt, Italy, and Lake Geneva and exhibited at the Salon of 1889, Cottet gained acclaim for his moody scenes of harbor life on the Brittany coast. His paintings are housed in the collections of the Musee d'Orsay in Paris, the Hermitage, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow, and many other museums in France.

PROVENANCE: The Estate of Pia Stratton, Nashville, Tennessee.

CONDITION: Painting has been lined and laid down on board. In very good condition with one small area of inpainting in lower right corner visible under UV light inspection, measuring 1/2". Frame with one repaired break to decoration in upper right corner and light overall wear.