Sebastiano Garbin (XX) - Venezia, Paesaggio Lagunare

Author

Sebastiano Garbin (XX) was an Italian painter. Little biographical information is available. He was an artist active throughout the twentieth century, especially in the 1940s and 1950s, and his artistic production is inextricably linked to the cultural context of the Veneto and Venezia Giulia regions. He emerges as a keen observer of local reality, capable of translating the typical atmospheres of the Upper Adriatic onto canvas through a solid and traditional figurative style of post-Impressionist influence. He was a lover of the oil technique, often applied to supports such as panel or cardboard, and was distinguished by a chromatic sensitivity aimed at capturing the variations of light on the waters of the Venetian Lagoon or on the stones of historic architecture.

Garbin's work today stands as a precious visual testimony to the region, ranging from the seascapes of the Venetian lagoon and the Trieste coast to the sacred interiors and landscapes of Istria, including his depictions of the Basilica of Poreč. Far from the more experimental avant-garde movements of his time, the artist remained faithful to a sincere and descriptive landscape painting.

Description

"Venice, Lagoon Landscape", oil on panel, 37*53cm with frame, 26*42cm the panel alone, signed lower left, datable to the 1940s.

The scene is dominated by a broad expanse of sky that intersects with the expanse of the lagoon, reducing the horizon to a thin line against which the distant and imperceptible silhouettes of other vessels stand out. In the left foreground, acting as a perspective backdrop and focal point of the composition, a traditional boat with dark sails, presumably a bragozzo, glides silently across the calm waters, accentuating the sense of vastness and solitude of the scene.

Stylistically, the composition is based on a rigorous horizontal balance, enlivened by a textured and confident brushstroke that avoids meticulous detail but instead constructs volumes through color. The refined palette, playing on pearly tones, bluish grays, and pale ochres, masterfully conveys the milky, humid light of the lagoon atmosphere. The artist demonstrates a particular sensitivity in the rendering of reflections, treating the water as a vibrant surface upon which the dark reflections of the boat and the warm hues of the clouds stretch, creating a striking contrast between the heaviness of the looming clouds and the liquidity of the sea.

This painting represents an emblematic example of Garbin's artistic maturity and fits perfectly into the vein of his landscape painting. Consistent with his biographical profile as a keen observer of the Julian and Veneto regions, the artist here confirms his predilection for a sincere and unrestrained naturalism. A work of beautiful and fresh composition, it has a refined aesthetic impact.

Condition Report

Good, almost excellent overall condition. The painting is intact throughout, with vivid, clearly legible colors and brushstrokes. The frame is included.

Tracked and insured shipment with adequate packaging.