Guillaumes 1864 Var Valley Lithograph Alpes Maritimes France

Description

Guillaumes in the Var Valley depicted in an antique lithograph from 1864. This view of the Alpes-Maritimes in southern France brings together the village, its hilltop castle and the surrounding mountain landscape.

The riverbanks occupy the foreground, where stones and vegetation lead the eye towards the village. On the right, a striking rock formation pierced by an opening gives the composition a distinctive feature. Its dark contours contrast with the more distant buildings and mountain slopes.

Guillaumes stretches across the middle distance beneath its castle, which stands prominently on a rocky height. The clustered houses and the elevated fortress create a picturesque contrast between the inhabited valley and the rugged terrain above.

The composition combines architectural detail with a broad mountain setting. Successive layers of riverbank, village and distant slopes give depth to the image. The treatment of the landscape reflects the nineteenth-century taste for dramatic scenery and picturesque views.

Based on a drawing by Félix Benoist and associated with Nice et Savoie, this Guillaumes lithograph will appeal to collectors of views of the Alpes-Maritimes and the Var Valley. Its landscape format and varied details also make it an attractive subject for framing.

Reference: B3337R791.
Location: Guillaumes in the Var Valley — Alpes-Maritimes France.
Date: 1864.
Composition: Félix Benoist.
Technique: lithograph on paper.
Sheet dimensions: 42 × 31.5 cm.
Image dimensions: 31.8 × 23.4 cm.

The photographs form an integral part of the description and should be consulted for the condition of the sheet and image.