L'Olivier

20th-century large-scale oil on canvas signed Marie Nivouliès for Marie-Anne de Nivouliès Pierrefort (1879–1968) in the lower right corner.

A southern landscape structured around an olive tree, set before a small stone building with an arched doorway and a simple wooden pergola extending beyond it. The architecture feels sun-worn, partially absorbed into the surrounding vegetation, as if long embedded in the landscape.

Light is the dominant force. Warm ochres, deep greens, and softened terracotta tones vibrate across the surface. Brushwork remains visible and deliberate, particularly in the treatment of stone and foliage, where texture introduces movement without dissolving form. The paint carries warmth through layered tonal shifts that release light across the façade and ground.

The olive tree anchors the composition. Its darker mass and twisting trunk provide structure against the luminous stone, quietly organizing the space. The scene is less concerned with descriptive detail than with heat, shadow, and the material presence of Mediterranean terrain.

About the artist: 

Marie-Anne de Nivouliès Pierrefort (1879–1968) was a French painter active primarily in the south of France. Her work includes Mediterranean landscapes, village scenes, and still lifes characterized by visible brushwork and a luminous palette structured around ochres and greens. Associated with a post-Impressionist sensibility, her painting balances graphic clarity with warmth of color.

She exhibited in Paris, notably at the Salon des Indépendants in the early 20th century.

• Overall Size: 23.6" x 27.1" / 60cm x 69.5cm.
  
• Size without the frame: 18.1" x 21.6" / 46cm x 55cm.
• Country of origin: France. 
• Signature: Marie-Anne de Nivouliès Pierrefort (1879-1968).
• Creation date: Circa 1920.   
  
• Condition: The canvas shows two small connected tears measuring approximately 0.3", without full openings and located in dark areas to the right of the tree and slightly above the signature. They have no visual impact but should be noted. The trunk of the tree displays a small network of surface veins, a common phenomenon for a canvas of this age. The visible veins (natural craquelure) result from the normal aging process of oil paint. They are stable and part of the work’s history. When kept in a dry, temperate interior and away from direct sunlight, they will not develop further. The antique wooden frame presents a few minor impacts and traces of wear; its overall condition is very good.
• Shipped with DHL: Complimentary shipping to the US and Europe. A surcharge will be applied for deliveries to Australia, New Zealand, and Asia.
• DDP shipping: All taxes and import fees are included in the listed price.