It depicts a view of the port of
Rochefort on the
Atlantic coast of France. The view is taken from the Magasin des Colonies, a large
warehouse that serviced the colonial port's trade with
France's Empire. It focuses on the harbour and
Rochefort Arsenal with the town itself represented only the
bell tower of the church of
Saint Louis. The
Royal Ropeworks are on the right. The city had been subject to an
unsuccessful British attack five years earlier during the
Seven Years' War. The picture was produced as part Vernet's celebrated
Views of the Ports of France series
commissioned by
Louis XV which included fourteen works. Despite being one of the less obviously
picturesque locations in the series, due to the low-lying terrain, Vernet achieved success by use of billowing smoke against an atmospheric sky. It was praised by critics for its
naturalism. It was exhibited at the
Salon of 1763. Today the painting is in the collection of the
Louvre in
Paris although on display at the
Musée national de la Marine. ==References==