Emile Godchaux (c. 1860 Bordeaux - 1938) Sailing ships and boats off Venice in the morning light Impressionistic work by the French painter, typical of his motifs and style, from a series of paintings of Venice influenced by Felix Ziem, in which he captured the Mediterranean light moods there. The painting depicts the hustle and bustle of the Venetian lagoon. In the foreground, a magnificent, representative two-masted ship of an older design with a carved stern, its masts rising majestically into the sky with partially hoisted, brightly coloured sails and multiple flags. It is surrounded by numerous smaller boats, some of which are crewed, and in the background you can see the cityscape of Venice with the domes of St Mark's Basilica. The very different boats and the varying sails in white, red and golden yellow reinforce the impression of a lively harbour atmosphere. The viewer's focus is subtly drawn to the large ship thanks to the loose, soft style, the blurred background and similarly rendered foreground as well as the nuanced colouring. The surface of the water is calm, with gentle waves reflecting the ship and the light. The morning light, still subdued and soft, contributes significantly to the harmonious, poetic overall mood. Delicately painted works by Emile Godchaux such as the present one are often wrongly attributed to Alfred Godchaux (1839-1907), who was presumably his father. Oil on canvas; signed a.; 81 cm x 65 cm. Frame. Oil on canvas. Signed.