Albert Marquet at Pyla

On Saturday January 23 in Bordeaux, the Briscadieu auction house will conduct the fifth sale of Bordeaux-based works. The highlight of the 280 19^th and 20^th century paintings, drawings and prints will be Bassin d’Arcachon, jardin au Pyla (Arcachon Bay: Garden at Pyla), a 1935 painting by Albert Marquet (€50,000/70,000). Belonging first to his wife, Marcelle Marquet, then to the gallerist Katia Granoff, the work has been in the same private collection since 1948 and has never come up for auction. Marquet’s vision of this spot in the Gironde is bright and spare. The Cap-Ferret Peninsula lies in the background and tall, dark pine trees contrast with the light blue sky and water. Marquet was passionate about the sea, which became one of his trademark themes. In the summer of 1935, at the height of his style and career, he spent two quiet yet productive months at the Villa Robinson in Pyla-sur-Mer, painting the locale at various times of day. This magical encounter gave birth to around 30 landscapes.