Félix Mestres Borrell (1872–1933) - View Over Étretat, France

Félix Mestres Borrell (1872-1933) Spain

View Over Étretat, France

oil on canvas
singed
unframed: 46 x 65 cm (18.1 x 25.6 inches)
framed: 62 x 81 cm (24.4 x 31.9 inches)

Provenance:
A Swedish private collection.

Comparable Sales:
Kieselbach Auctions, Woman with Flowers in Provence, 1893, 42th Auction / Lot 190. ,2012-12-18. sold for c. 3000€ including buyers premium.

Essay:
This exquisite painting by Spanish artist Félix Mestres Borrell, created around 1895, captures a young woman gazing thoughtfully over the charming town of Étretat, France. With a delicate fan in hand, she stands at a balcony, observing the coastal landscape bathed in soft twilight hues. In the distance, the iconic Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde is visible, perched atop a hill, a notable landmark of Étretat.

Félix Mestres Borrell, born in Barcelona in 1872, was a master of serene realism and impeccable technique. After entering the School of Fine Arts at the age of twelve, he quickly distinguished himself, receiving numerous awards in Madrid and Barcelona. His career blossomed with critical success, earning medals for his work and later securing a professorship in decorative painting at the School of Industrial Arts in Barcelona. Mestres Borrell’s works are celebrated for their refined realism and technical precision, qualities that can be seen in this elegant scene of Étretat.

This painting offers a tranquil yet evocative glimpse into 19th-century France through the eyes of a skilled artist who seamlessly blends meticulous detail with atmospheric beauty.