Although now universally regarded as a French painter, Weber was in fact born in Leipzig in 1838. After his initial art studies in Berlin under Wilhelm Krause he moved to Paris where he continued his education under Eugene Isabey. Isabey’s influence was to pervade his choice of subjects and style of painting for the rest of his career. His first exhibit at the Paris Salon came in 1858 and he was to continue showing his pieces there, winning numerous prizes, for the remainder of his life. As one of France’s premier marine painters he attained the position of Official Painter to the Navy and the Ministry of the Colonies. This large and dramatic example depicts fishermen on the foreshore at twilight and was painted during his best years, around 1870. Similar views can be seen in many of the world’s museums including, Cologne, Melbourne, Sydney, Mulhouse and Nice.
Lit; E. Benezit., G. Schurr.