Stormy ships. Oil on canvas Cm 80,00 x 56,00 Signature lower at the centre: «J.Vernet». 1771-1772. The artwork has been seen live by Émilie Beck Saiello, who confirms the authenticity and will include it in the forthcoming catalogue raisonné. The artwork is published as Vernet’s original in the catalogue of Florence Ingersoll-Smouse (1926): the scholar believes that, although not dated, it is to be considered a pendant of the Marine, port de mer , dated 1772, and is to be identified with the work La tempête commissioned by Baron Demidoff on 14 December 1771 (as shown in document C. 254 in Lagrange, 1864). Provenance: Commissioned under the title La tempête by Baron Demidoff on 14 December 1771 for the price of 50 Louis. Inherited by descent from Nicolas Demidoff. Sold at auction by the same, San Donato, february 21th - march 10th 1870, Lot n. 132 Inherited by Countess de Pimodan, Paris Sold at auction in Paris, Hotel des Ventes du Palais, Salle Maurice Reims, 9 December 1999, Lot no. 20. Bibliography: Léon Lagrange, Joseph Vernet et la peinture au XVIIIe siècle: avec le texte des Livres de raison et un grand nombre de documents inédits, II ed., Paris 1864, C. 254 Florence Ingersoll-Smouse, Joseph Vernet peintre de marine, 1714 - 1789: étude critique, suivie d’un catalogue raisonné de son oeuvre peint avec trois cent cinquante-sept reproductions, Paris 1926, vol. II, n. 951, pag. 23 (pendant del n. 950). The artwork is accompanied by an export licence. For the full text please contact the auction house.