Landscape, Antibes (The Bay of Nice)

Sunshine spills across this 1890 view of the bay near Antibes, painted by the Australian artist John Russell during his long stay on the French coast. Deep blue water fills the middle of the scene, fading into pale mountains that seem to dissolve in the heat. Along the shore, golden grasses and two rounded green trees catch the light, and a puff of pink cloud drifts oddly above the horizon, giving the peaceful setting a slightly dreamlike feel.

Russell moved in remarkable company, counting Vincent van Gogh and Claude Monet among his friends, and their mark shows in his quick, broken brushstrokes and glowing patches of color. Because he had money of his own, he never needed to sell his paintings, so he was free to chase whatever light and mood caught his eye along the Mediterranean. His name faded for many years after his death, but he has since been recognized as one of Australia's finest Impressionists, and this bright coastal scene helps explain the renewed interest in his work.