Paintings

JOSEPH ABEILLE (1669? – Marseille 1752)
“The Tempest”
Oil on Canvas
20½ x 36¾ (52 x 93.5 cm)

In original period frame Signed, lower left Provenance: French Private Collection Little is know about the artistic maritime circle in the South of France during the reign of Louis XIV. Abeille seemed to have worked in the same sphere as Pascal de La Rose ( Toulon 1665-1745 Toulon) and specialized in marine painting. At the age of 16, he entered the French Royal Navy as a marine-painter.

Abeille was working as an artist des Arsenaux in Toulon and Marseilles. Some of these bases were strategic military properties, therefore a special authorization was required to enter these headquarters. Archives preserve a documentation of these authorizations . Miss. Magalie Theron established a list of artist from these archives, which includes the name of Joseph Abeille. Only a few of his marine paintings are known.