Costal View by Julius Montalant , American. (1823-1878)

by Julius Montalant , American. (1823-1878)

Oil on Canvas, signed.

Ptg.: 11" x 18"
Frame: 18" x 25"

Born in Virginia, probably Norfolk, Julius Montalant is known for his drawings and paintings inspired by his travels on board navy ships. Attached to the USS St. Louis around 1844-45, he sketched ports of call he visited, including Brazil, Chile, New Zealand, Australia, and China.  Many of his works are held in the Museum of the U.S. Naval Academy.  Navy records indicate his rank as 'C. Clerk', which may mean that he held a civilian position.

During the 1850s he lived in Philadelphia, and in 1851-61 he exhibited at the Philadelphia Art Union and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.  Included were paintings of North America, Greece, China, France, Italy, and South America. The 'tropical' scenes were apparently based on sketches done on board the USS St. Louis. In 1858 he traveled to Rome, and is recorded to have studied with J.B. Durand-Brager in 1864.  He made Rome his base until his death in 1878. Montalant appears to have been a peripatetic artist, for during his decade of exhibition in the United States, he listed his addresses as Philadelphia, Rome, Italy, and Europe. He was a friend of the sculptor E. S. Bartholomew. After painting in southern Italy for several years, he returned to New York City in mid-1859.

He exhibited at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts from 1851 to 1861. He exhibited two New Hampshire paintings at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1855 – Mount Washington and View from Mount Kearsarge. He exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1861 and 1863.