This painting, titled “Verdures” by Albert Marquet, displays his signature approach to landscape with an elevated view, harmonious colors, and atmospheric play between greenery and urban architecture. In this composition, Marquet captures lush vegetation rendered in soft greens and blues that contrast with the built environment below. The painting stands out for its ability to distill complex scenery into simple, evocative forms, evoking both serenity and vibrancy without excessive detail. Marquet’s technique emphasizes simplification, condensing visual elements to their essentials.

Albert Marquet (1875–1947) was a distinguished French painter associated with Fauvism, though his mature style favored a more subdued naturalism.. Born in Bordeaux, he moved to Paris as a teenager to study at the École des Arts Décoratifs, where he met Henri Matisse, a close companion and artistic influence throughout his life. Early on, Marquet’s works echoed the bold colors and expressive brushwork characteristic of the Fauve movement, as seen in his contributions to the landmark 1905 Salon d’Automne exhibition. Over time, however, he adopted a reserved palette and prioritized atmospheric landscapes, urban scenes, and harbor views, often from high vantage points.

Marquet travelled extensively throughout Europe and North Africa, fueling his lifelong fascination with light, water, and visual harmonies. He lived in Algiers during the Second World War, creating many paintings of the city’s port and verdant surroundings. Renowned for his nuanced compositions, Marquet refused to adhere strictly to artistic theories, instead focusing on capturing the essence of a scene and its atmosphere. His legacy persists as one of the key painters bridging Fauvism and Impressionism, leaving behind a body of work celebrated for its clarity, subtlety, and lyrical beauty.

Provenance: Estate of the artist Mme Albert Marquet, Paris; Wildenstein & Co., New York: private collection acquired from Wildenstein & Co NY in 1988; Dutch private collection

Exhibited: London, Wildenstein & Co. &  Buenos Aires, Wildenstein Gallery, Albert Marquet, 1972, nos. 41 & 20 Paris, Galerie Artcurial, Albert Marquet, 1981, n.n.

Literature:  Marion Vidal-Bué, Alger et ses peintres, Paris, 2000, p. 55, illustrated; Jean Claude Martinet & Guy Wildenstein, Marquet, L’Afrique du Nord, Catalogue de l’oeuvre peint, Paris, 2001, no. I-374, p. 292, illustrated