The French Riviera, a bay on the Mediterranean

"The French Riviera, a bay on the Mediterranean" is a painting by Henri Harpignies, created between 1890 and 1900. It is housed in the Petit Palais. The painting measures 0.42 meters in width and 0.265 meters in height.

The artwork depicts a tranquil Mediterranean bay. The foreground shows low-lying, scrubby vegetation leading to a rocky, cliff face that descends sharply to the water's edge. The cliffs are light beige and tan, showing texture and variation in color. Beyond the cliffs, a calm, blue-grey sea stretches to a distant shoreline of low, rolling hills under a pale sky. The overall palette is muted and naturalistic, with soft transitions between colors. The style suggests a plein air approach, capturing the natural light and atmosphere of the scene.