Corsican Chestnut Trees by Charles Kvapil, 1933

Corsican Chestnut Trees', oil on canvas, by Charles Kvapil (1933). The artist, Kvapil, has many artworks which depict scenes in nature such as this one. A pathway through the chestnut trees leads to a home overlooking the Mediterranean. The depth of colour, particularly the green foliage, is spellbinding. One can almost smell the scent of the woods which is carried on the wind from the mountains to the coast. The heady mix of plants includes eucalyptus, juniper, rosemary, heather, myrtle, sage, mint, thyme and lavender. In Corsica, the presence of the chestnut tree has been mentioned in documents since the beginning of the 13th Century. Their story on the island is indeed a very long one and has left a deep mark on that society, the economy, daily life, food and their landscapes. Chestnuts are used to make the famous chestnut-flour, used in cakes and pastries, bread, nougat and many other delicious dishes native to Corsica. Kvapil pays homage to this magnificent tree which has nourished Corsican society over the centuries. The artwork is in good overall condition having been recently cleaned by an art restoration professional. It is newly framed using museum grade components. About the Artist : Charles Kvapil was born in 1884 in Antwerp, Belgium. He exhibited his first works there in 1908 at the Salon d'Anvers . After the war he attended l'Académie des Beaux-Arts in Antwerp and began to exhibit in Paris in 1920 at the Salon des Indépendants . Kvapil was known primarily as a painter of people, in particular of curvaceous nudes. He moved into a studio in Montmartre where he painted his models in the studio with Sacre Coeur as backdrop. He also painted in the countryside like the Impressionists. Kvapil's paintings are creative and modern; his nudes and bouquets of flowers are energetic and powerful. His palette is rich in cobalt blues and in fiery earth tones. His technique is intuitive and confident. Although his oils were often modestly presented on panels of wood or soft board, those formats did not detract from the evident talent he displayed nor from the joy exemplified in his paintings. Dimensions with frame : H 83.5 cm / 32.9" W 62.5 cm / 24.6" Dimensions without frame : H 80 cm / 31.5" W 59 cm / 23.2"