Late 18th century FRENCH school, after Joseph VERNET Fishermen hauling in their nets in a creek Canvas 86 x 122 cm Inscribed on the reverse of the stretcher: "Vernet venant de Barbentane restored in 1974 by Mr. Aubert". Restoration in the Louvre, Roserot de Melin collection". Old restorations Provenance : Collection of the Marquis de Barbentane, Chateau de Barbentane; always in the family by descent. Recovery of Vernet's painting dated 1760 (canvas, 100.3 x 137 cm) on the art market in 1970. We are grateful to art historian Sarah Montebello, a specialist in Joseph Vernet's Provençal pupils, for suggesting an attribution to Pierre Rey. She points out that we come across works by Pierre Rey under the patronymic Philippe Rey. Her doctoral research has established his true identity. His first name is Pierre, not Philippe.