From: Christies 

The landscape surrounding Nice is one of hills, canyons and rivers. Painted from 1883 to 1884, Landscape View Near Nice depicts a hilly town [I'm not sure it's a town, but at least a building] and superbly demonstrates John Singer Sargent's fresh and original approach to plein air painting. A rich mix of color, textures and light, the work exhibits Sargent's early mastery of Impressionist techniques. Quick dashes of yellow pigment and soft green paint infuse the scene with a distinct afternoon light that highlight the tree tops scattered throughout the scene. The imposing hillside, composed of broader strokes of fluid paint, sweeps down from the right side of the composition and draws one's eye into the depth of space to find a quiet grove of trees in the background. The spontaneity of the brushwork suggests that he worked rapidly, perhaps racing to apply the paint before the setting sun disappeared behind the horizon. 
(Christies) 
 
  

Provenance: 
Christie's, London, 24-27 July 1925, lot 103 from artist's estate 
Mr. R. Langston Douglas, London. 
Mr. Beatly, England. 
Mr. Mitford, England. 
Mr. Johnson, England. 
Private collection, London. 
Spanierman Gallery, New York. 
  
Literature:  
E. Charteris, John Sargent, New York, 1927, p. 280 
C.M. Mount, John Singer Sargent: A Biography, New York, 1955, p. 355 
  
Exhibited: 
Tokyo, Japan, Isetan Museum of Art, John Singer Sargent, January 26-June 11, 1989, no. 161, pp. 58, 138, illustrated (This exhibition also traveled to Yamaguchi, Japan, Yamaguchi Prefectural Museum, Otsu, Japan, Kumamoto Prefectural Museum, Shiga, Japan, The Museum of Modern Art)  
  
Notes:  

The painting had been offered for sale at Spanierman Gallery, in New York, as late as 2002 (I think they are the last owners). It was at that time incorrectly titled "Landscape near Grasse". I assume it was mislabled. Charteris, in his list of work identifies an oil painting of this size under the name "Landscape View Near Nice". 

Offered but did not sell at Christies, New York, Rockefeller Plaza; December 5, 2002; Lot 88, Sale # 1124; Estimate $300,000 - $500,000  

• See the year in review 1883-1884