The Port of Saint-Goustan at Auray

The Port of Saint-Goustan at Auray, painted by Maxime Maufra around 1900, depicts one of the medieval harbor towns of the Morbihan region in southern Brittany. Saint-Goustan's medieval stone harbor, with its timber-framed houses reflected in the calm tidal river, was among the most picturesque port settings in a region that offered painters an abundance of marine subjects. Maufra was particularly drawn to the character of these old Breton ports, where traditional architecture and working harbor life coexisted. Despite its classification in the database as Religious, the painting appears to be a harbor townscape rather than a religious subject.

Maufra exploits the reflective properties of the tidal harbor to create a composition that works both above and below the waterline. His brushwork is responsive to the different textures of stone architecture, wooden boats, and water. The palette captures the particular tonal quality of Breton light on old stone and river water.