River Landscape with Boatsmen and Tower

Light slowly breaks through the shifting clouds, illuminating the distant town and those at work on the river. The thick clouds moving across the land have cast the foreground into shadow, contrasting with the light breaking out further into the picture. In the foreground an old tower stands proud at the water’s edge, its dimensions dwarfing the figures that walk beside it. Three travelers move towards shore in a small boat, while in the distance fishermen begin lowering nets into the river. Overhead the clouds shift restlessly, their broken patterns illuminating pockets of water as well as the distant town beyond. The pictures diagonal sweep of clouds creates movement, leading your eye from the great tower along the water’s edge and into the distant town beyond.

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My name is Michael Memete, I am a self taught Melbourne based artist inspired by the old masters, in particular those of the 17th century Dutch Golden Age. Each of my paintings is created using the highest quality materials possible, including paints I grind by hand as well as flax oil (“linseed” oil) that I have cleansed and prepared using time honoured methods. Each piece I create is a one off and though themes and objects may reappear I will never make copies of a previous work. I am my own harshest critic and believe that each piece must be of a certain level of quality before it leaves the studio and I can be comfortable asking somebody to buy it. Vanity, mortality, philosophy and wisdom are all themes I like to explore in my work and I aim to improve my craft with each painting I complete. It is my hope that there are people out there who would like to support me on this journey as I aspire to reach mastery and play a small part in restoring the beauty of traditional art in modern times.

Each piece comes with a hand signed certificate of authenticity upon purchase.

All of my works are signed, varnished, framed and ready to hang unless stated otherwise.

If you have any inquiries or If you would like to see a piece in the studio, please feel free to get in touch, I would be more than happy to hear from you. Thank you.

All copyright & reproduction rights are reserved by the artist.
No artworks may be reproduced without written consent of the artist.