Framed Oil Painting on Canvas by Leo Mechelaere (1880-1964)

Framed Oil Painting on Canvas of Bruges by Leo Mechelaere (1880-1964) is a charming depiction of the storied city of Bruges, centuries ago a bustling port eventually eclipsed by Antwerp, and connected to other surrounding villages and cities with a complex system of man-made canals.  The canals also pervade the city of Bruges creating a system of transportation and earning the moniker of "Venice of the North".  Here Mechelaere has accurately depicted the lush green canopy that is ubiquitous in the region, coupled with the quaint homes and structures along each canal, with hand-made stone crossings designed for foot and cart traffic.  Mechelaere's command of color and control of light on the canvas are immediately evident.  We also see a simple boat just passing under the arch of the bridge.  The artist has used a broad spectrum of natural earth tones to indicate a clear early Fall day, using deft brush strokes influenced by the impressionist movement for a wonderful effect.  Survives in its original frame.
Leo Mechelaere was was born in Bruges in 1880 and passed away in Erlangen in Germany in 1964. An accomplished painter and etcher, he became deaf and mute at a young age.  Regardless of his impediments, he completed his higher education at the Academy in Bruges and the Institute in Antwerp, conducted by F. Courtens and J. De Vriendt.  He is best known for his charming depictions of Bruges cityscapes, but also rendered interiors, portraits, and other scenes of the surrounding countryside.  Later in life, his health again became an issue forcing him to move to Germany to live with his eldest daughter in Erlangen.  His work appeared in several museums including the Groeninge Museum in Bruges, and he has been mentioned in the Lexicon of West Flemish Visual Artists II and Two Centuries of Signatures of Belgian Artists.
Circa early 1900s
Measures 35H x 32.5W x 2.5D