Signed lower left: Vasily (Wilhelm) Filippovich Levi (1878 - 1954). The uncommon view of Venice was depicted by gifted artist in even more modernism manner than his other works of same period. IMO this one worth special acceptance being very rare and highly desired masterwork. The scorching sun gilds the sparkling expanse of the canal with its rays. At this hour the city is empty. Calm waves gently lap against the keel of the gondola. The artist perfectly transferred to the canvas the atmospheric idyll and romantic magic of old Venice. Oil painting on wood, signed, framed.
Size app.: 47 x 64 cm (roughly 18.5 x 25.2 in) and beautiful antique frame ca 64.5 x 81 cm (roughly 25.4 x 31.9 in). Very Good condition, ready to hang condition, age wear (just minor wear to frame finish). Please study good resolution images for overall cosmetic condition. In person actual painting may appear darker or brighter than in our pictures, strictly depending on sufficient light in your environment. Weight of app. 3.2 kg is going to measure some 5 kg packed for shipment.
V. F. Levi - lawyer, collector, and also an artist. He spent his childhood in Riga, studied at the Alexander Gymnasium. He graduated from the 1st Kharkov Gymnasium (1899) and the Faculty of Law of Kharkov University. In 1916 he moved to Terijoki, built a house there and decided to devote himself to art. In 1918, on the advice of I. I. Brodsky, he showed his works to I. E. Repin and received his approval. After some time, he became Repin's confidant: during 1919-1930, he organized more than 50 Repin exhibitions in Helsinki, Prague, The Hague, Hamburg, Nice, Cannes and other European cities. In 1930-1939 he lived in Paris. In 1930 he participated in the Exhibition of Paintings by Russian Masters in Amsterdam, in 1931 he became one of the organizers and participants in the exhibition of Russian artists at the d'Alignan Gallery. In 1939 he settled in Stockholm and continued to paint. In 1945, he handed over to the State Literary Museum in Moscow 160 letters from Repin to him. The work of VF Levy is represented in the Luxembourg Museum in Paris, the National Gallery in Prague, the Hradcany Gallery in Prague, the Swedish museums of Gevleborg, Trelleborg and Helsingland.