Salamanders, St Tropez by Russell Flint

Here we have two of Russell Flint's models topless and with very large fishing rods in ‘St Tropez' which is of course on the French Riviera (or Côte d'Azur).

‘Salamanders’ where being used for fish bait here and although still used today, many fishermen choose not too due to declining stocks.

During World War II St Tropez was the first town on its coast to be liberated and post war it became a famous seaside destination, including visits from artists, filmmakers and musicians & later for wealthy Europeans & Americans as a holiday resort.

Clearly it was a beautiful day when this vista was painted, with few people around and a just a couple of small boats either side of the scene, allowing flint to concentrate on the innocent beauty of the models & their surroundings.

I love SWRF’s impressionist painting of the old town and the perfect blue of the sea. 'Salamanders, St Tropez' reminds you just how accomplished a landscape artist he was.