This painting is a classic hillside vantage looking out over the trees and villas from where one may watch the yachts glide, as once discovered by American artist Guy C. Wiggins. Somewhere along the Mediterranean Coast of the South of France, the fairly expansive harbor and another close-by limit the possible locations. The harmony of the flora helps regionally locate the spot as well, with Mediterranean Spruce trees and poppy-like wildflowers. Our educated guess is that this is the region between Marseille and Toulon, near La Seyne.
Painted in the mid-1920s, it is moving toward the ethereal content of Wiggins' substantial repertoire of New York snowy winters. Yet where those often have a detached element of implied cold and isolation, the warmth radiant from this painting presents an inviting mood. The buildings have the region's harmonious look, with alabaster plaster and white tones capped with red tile roofs everywhere. An observation bell tower dominates the center, possibly part of a church or school. This adds the important humanistic element, without a person in actual sight. This is a nice slice of European coastline by a noted American artist.
