In this seascape by Emilios Prosalentis (1859 – 1926), a three-masted sailboat at sea dominates. The ship, which is located in mid-ocean, is depicted in a three-quarter diagonal with its bow towards the viewer, giving the impression of rushing through the waves. The painter has given the sailboat a multitude of details, such as the prow representing a woman in a white and blue dress. Furthermore, on the lower part of the ship, rust spots created by the oxidation of the metal appear. The inflated white sails indicate the wind present in the scene, while the rendering of the waves is also impressive. In the deep blue sky, there are few clouds while two seagulls fly from the right side of the sailboat, completing the composition.
Coming from an artistic family – he belonged to the third generation of painters – Emilios Prosalentis studied at the School of Fine Arts in Athens and then in Paris, where he was influenced by the pursuits of the French school. At the same time as his studies in painting, he also studied engineering and, upon returning to Greece, was appointed to the Navy. During his work, he immortalized the life of the sea through drawings, watercolors and oil paintings depicting ships, which were his favorite subject. The painting from the Laskaridis collection shows the artist’s perfection in technique and subtlety in the use of color, as well as his knowledge of the subject matter of his work.
