8. CONSTANTINOS VOLANAKIS (1837-1907) Beach at Salamina signed in greek (lower left) oil on canvas 39 x 57,5 cm (15.35 x 22.64 in.) Possible date of execution 20 December 1891 according to an inscription on the reverse. Oil on canvas Provenance Private collection, Athens. This outstanding Volanakis is a fine rendering of the mellow warmth of atmosphere strongly reminiscent of the great 17th century Dutch masters, whose calm seascapes Volanakis is certain to have seen at Munich's Alte Pinakothek. The artist's decision to give up a solidly established career in Bavaria to return to Greece in 1883, and his choice of taking permanent residency in the seaside town of Piraeus, facilitated him in accurately rendering atmospheric changes, delicate nuances of the seascape and soft gradations of light and shade, capturing the poetry of his scenes. Here, his depiction of the tranquil surface of the sea and of the beached fishing boat with the fisherman casually tending his nets, combines realistic and romantic elements to capture the absolute stillness of the hour. This quiet poetry is further suggested by the inclusion of a pair of elegant strollers almost absorbed by their surroundings in a romantic notion of art echoing Claude Lorrain, the great 17th c. master of imaginative landscapes. The peaceful atmosphere that exudes the laid-back attitude of fin-de-siecle Greece permeates the entire composition, while the overall feeling of peace and reverie inspires the viewer to adopt a dreamlike attitude towards life.