"Chapel of Our Lady of the Good Journey, Bay of Rio de Janeiro," c. 1832-37
by Benjamin Mary (Belgain, 1792-1846)
Grisaille watercolor, with white highlights,
9 ½ x 11 ½ in. (including frame)
Gilded antique frame, more recent matting
Inscribed in French at the bottom and signed at lower right on painting
Condition: Some marking on the paper (mainly at top left, which may be an old water mark). The center of the sheet is a darker shade - it's not clear whether this is purposely painted this way or if there is fading specific to the edges. The frame has some paster loss, mainly top left.
Benjamin Mary (1792-1846) was a Belgian diplomat, amateur artist and botanist. After a brief career in Beglain politics in the 1820s, Mary was nominated as the first Belgian chargé d'affaires to Brazil in July 1832. Based in Rio de Janeiro, he spent five years in Brazil, during which time he kept sketch books and painted scenes of the landscape and flora of the area. After Brazil, he traveled extensively to other countries for diplomatic purposes and continued to sketch and paint on his travels until his death in 1846.
His work has an extensive auction record. Notably, a collection of 7 watercolors sold at Christie's London in 2000 for over £31,000.
by Benjamin Mary (Belgain, 1792-1846)
Grisaille watercolor, with white highlights,
9 ½ x 11 ½ in. (including frame)
Gilded antique frame, more recent matting
Inscribed in French at the bottom and signed at lower right on painting
Condition: Some marking on the paper (mainly at top left, which may be an old water mark). The center of the sheet is a darker shade - it's not clear whether this is purposely painted this way or if there is fading specific to the edges. The frame has some paster loss, mainly top left.
Benjamin Mary (1792-1846) was a Belgian diplomat, amateur artist and botanist. After a brief career in Beglain politics in the 1820s, Mary was nominated as the first Belgian chargé d'affaires to Brazil in July 1832. Based in Rio de Janeiro, he spent five years in Brazil, during which time he kept sketch books and painted scenes of the landscape and flora of the area. After Brazil, he traveled extensively to other countries for diplomatic purposes and continued to sketch and paint on his travels until his death in 1846.
His work has an extensive auction record. Notably, a collection of 7 watercolors sold at Christie's London in 2000 for over £31,000.
by Benjamin Mary (Belgain, 1792-1846)
Grisaille watercolor, with white highlights,
9 ½ x 11 ½ in. (including frame)
Gilded antique frame, more recent matting
Inscribed in French at the bottom and signed at lower right on painting
Condition: Some marking on the paper (mainly at top left, which may be an old water mark). The center of the sheet is a darker shade - it's not clear whether this is purposely painted this way or if there is fading specific to the edges. The frame has some paster loss, mainly top left.
Benjamin Mary (1792-1846) was a Belgian diplomat, amateur artist and botanist. After a brief career in Beglain politics in the 1820s, Mary was nominated as the first Belgian chargé d'affaires to Brazil in July 1832. Based in Rio de Janeiro, he spent five years in Brazil, during which time he kept sketch books and painted scenes of the landscape and flora of the area. After Brazil, he traveled extensively to other countries for diplomatic purposes and continued to sketch and paint on his travels until his death in 1846.
His work has an extensive auction record. Notably, a collection of 7 watercolors sold at Christie's London in 2000 for over £31,000.