An enchanting painting of ducks and ducklings next to a river by constant Ludovic Artz. A white duck can be seen about to enter the water with her ducklings. Two more ducks are depicted resting on the bank beside a male duck who is shown puffing his chest out.

Constant David Ludovic Artz was born in Paris on 3 June, 1870, the son of David Adolph Constant Artz (1837-1890) and Josephine Jouanin. His father was a Dutch artist who had moved his family to Paris to set up a studio. The family returned to Holland in 1874 and settled in the Hague. Artz was taught art by his father and at the age of 12 enrolled at the Academy of Visual Arts in The Hague. He also received tuition from Hendrik Mesdag (1831-1915) and Willem Maris (1844-1910) who had an influence on his subject matter.

He married Johanna Sophia Cecilia Ginjoolen at the Hague on 5 July, 1893. One of the witnesses was the artist Tony Offermans (1854-1911) whom he was apprenticed to at his studio. The couple went on to have two children together and to supplement his income, Artz also worked as an art teacher. One of his pupils was Leendert Scheltema (1876-1966).

After divorcing from his first wife in 1915, he married Lucie Sophie van der Hoeven in 1917. At some point he moved to Soestdijk, living there until 1926 when he relocated to Katwijk at Sea in. He returned to Soestdijk in 1931 where he died on 23 February, 1951.

Like his father, Artz was fascinated by nature and after painting a series of landscapes and seascapes began producing scenes featuring ducks and waterfowl usually on or by lakes and rivers. He was an expert at painting the play of light upon water and also preferred to work with smaller canvasses. His work can be found in private and public collections including the Rijksmuseum.

© Benton Fine Art