On the Bay of Naples c. 1830

Editor: Here we have Léon-François-Antoine Fleury’s oil painting, "On the Bay of Naples," from around 1830. The hazy light reflecting on the water gives the painting this amazing ethereal quality, almost like a dream. What do you see when you look at it? Curator: It feels like a memory, doesn't it? Fleury captures the Bay of Naples with this incredible lightness, almost like he's chasing a feeling more than a precise view. Think about it: early 19th century, artists are obsessed with capturing the sublime, that overwhelming feeling of nature's power and beauty. Does it feel like that to you? Editor: Definitely. I also get a sense of isolation though, even with the city and the people by the shore. Curator: That's interesting. It is worth reflecting on how the human figure here is really dwarfed, right? The immensity of the sky and the water makes them seem so small. He was one of the earliest artists working *en plein air*, working in front of the landscape itself instead of in a studio – the transient atmosphere has clearly affected him. Do you think it was that freedom to be outdoors which allowed him to express the power of nature over everything? Editor: That's a good point. Maybe he’s showing that the everyday life of people and bustling docks is fleeting compared to the landscape itself. Curator: Exactly! It’s like he’s reminding us of our place in the world, which is rather lovely if you ask me! Editor: That's a great way to put it. It makes me appreciate the painting even more. Curator: That’s what art should do.