Boats at Honfleur

Location

Country: France
City: Paris
Place: British Embassy

The dark inky colours of the sky and distant buildings, the swirling water and the narrow funnelled viewpoint add a sense of mystery to Alistair Grant's painting of boats in the picturesque port of Honfleur in northern France. On the southern bank of the Seine estuary across from Le Havre, Honfleur has been the subject of many Impressionist artists’ work including Gustave Courbet, Eugene Boudin and Claude Monet. Although born in London, Grant was half French. His mother was born in Etaples, a region in northern France which inspired many of his atmospheric landscape paintings.

Alistair Grant was a printmaker, painter and illustrator. He was born in Kensington, London. His mother was from Etaples in Northern France: Grant retained the family home here and the region inspired his work throughout his life. From 1941-43 he studied at Birmingham College of Art, before being conscripted into the Royal Air Force. He subsequently studied at the Royal College of Art, where he was appointed Head of Printmaking in 1970 and Professor in 1984. Grant was involved in the production of several UK films, including The Portrait of Dorian Gray and The Battle of Agincourt. After retiring from the Royal College, Grant focused on his work, exhibiting both in England and France and spending his time between London, Etaples and Paris.

Places

France, Calvados, River Seine, Basse-Normandie, Normandy, Honfleur

Subjects

fishing boat, seascape/coastal scene, telegraph pole, harbour, house, wall

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

Alistair Grant (1925 - 1997)

Title

Boats at Honfleur

Date

1956

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 91.50 cm, width: 71.00 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Zwemmer Gallery, September 1957

Inscription

br: A.Grant 56

GAC number

3893