Follower of Edgard Maxence 1871 - 1954. Framed Bretagne Breton Symbolist Oil Painting Circa 1910. Lady in Liturgical Costume with a Prayer Book.

Follower of Edgard Maxence.

French ( b.1871 - d.1954 ).

Meditation, Circa 1910.

Oil On Canvas.

Image size 34.4 inches x 22.2 inches ( 87.5cm x 56.5cm ).

Frame size 44.1 inches x 31.9 inches ( 112cm x 81cm ).

Available for sale from Big Sky Fine Art in the English county of Dorset, this remarkable original work is by a skilled French artist who was a follower of the leading French symbolist painter Edgard Maxence b.1871- d.1954.

This oil painting of circa 1910, is a larger stylised depiction of Maxence’s smaller watercolour work titled “Meditation” of circa 1905.

The painting is presented and supplied in its original frame (which is shown in these photographs).

The canvas, stretcher and frame have benefitted from cleaning, restoration and conservation, which was performed on our instruction, supervision and approval.

This antique painting is in very good condition. It wants for nothing and is supplied ready to hang and display.

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This is a remarkable original work by a skilled French artist who was a follower of the leading French symbolist painter Edgard Maxence. The work is fascinating, not least because it is an artistic tribute to a work of the same title by Maxence, but was produced as a variance on a theme, rather than an attempt to replicate. This work can be dated to around 1910.

Edgard Maxence (1871-1954), also known as Edgard Henri Marie Maxence, was born in Nantes in 1871. He studied at the School of Fine Arts in Paris, where he was a brilliant student and won several awards. He became a student of Gustave Moreau and began to distinguish himself by his taste for portraits. He was very attached to the Symbolist movement and inspired by the legends of Brittany and Celtic influences. He was also drawn to the Catholic faith of his home region and closely studied liturgical costume. He was mainly active in Paris, where he was a regular exhibitor in the major galleries. In 1900 he was awarded a gold medal at the World Fair and became a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. He enjoyed a brilliant career as a social portrait painter, although also created some still life and landscape work too. His work is held in several major public collections today.

The work which we now offer is an obvious tribute to this piece, undertaken by a skilled artist clearly familiar with the Maxence’s work, but it is not an attempt to duplicate the original. The subject matter is exactly the same, but the hand of the artist, the scale and the methodology are different. The work offered here was purposefully created in a different medium, namely oil on canvas whereas the Maxence work is black pencil, watercolour and gouache on paper. This choice of oils enables the artist to create this image in colours that are deeper and more vibrant. The size is different, with this piece being around 50% larger overall than the Maxence work. The result is a stunning second work, an original in its own right, with its own unique beauty.

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