River View - Antique Oil Painting

Framed oil on wooden panel by the Belgium impressionist painter - Victor Gilsoul (1897 - 1939). The painting shows a view of Vetheuil and is signed by the artist. The panel is mounted in an attractive gilt and painted frame and is also inscribed on the rear.

Gilsoul was born in Brussels and his parents were publicans who ran a pub in the suburbs of Brussels (Schaerbeek). The pub's clientele consisted mainly of unemployed painters and artists. The later known painter Louis Artan (1837-1890) was a regular customer and rented a room in the attic. Victor's father discouraged him from becoming an artist, but Louis Artan and animal painter Alfred Verwee (1838-1895) inspired the young Victor to become a painter. Gilsoul started drawing at age 12 and his work was received with enthusiasm by the regulars at the pub. He won first prize at the Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp at 14 years old. In 1883, at 17, he had his first salon exhibition in Brussels.

Several royals of the time showed great interest in Gilsoul's work and in 1897, at an international exhibition in Munich, the Prince of Bavaria bought two of his paintings. King Leopold II of Belgium bought his painting twice, Crepuscule in 1890, and in 1901, thirteen paintings to decorate the royal yacht. Queen Mum Mary (mother of King Albert I of Belgium), in 1904, bought two of his paintings. In 1915, the city of Paris bought the painting Mannekensvere. In 1899, the Museum of Krefeld bought the painting Lever du lune. In 1902, the city of Brussels ordered four paintings. In 1903, Camille Mauclair (1872-1945), French poet and writer, wrote a monograph on Victor Gilsoul. Mauclair had the following to say about the painting Le Soir de Bruges: " Ce tableau est le Meilleur témoignage de l'art belge." (Trans. This painting is the best example of Belgian art.)

In 1914, at the beginning of World War I, Victor fled to the neutral Netherlands. Between, 1910 and 1923, Gilsoul had a studio in Paris (Avenue Villiers XVII arrondissement). In 1924, Victor became a professor at the Higher Institute for Fine Arts in Antwerp. In 1933, Gilsoul started to work on his last workshop, in Brussels. He died on December 5, 1939, the eve of World War II.

In 1898, King Leopold II of Belgium knighted Victor Gilsoul. In 1900, Gilsoul was awarded a silver medal at the World Exhibition in Paris for his paintings.

Gilsoul's art is found in significant public and private collections worldwide, including the Musee Charlier and the Antwerp Museum of Fine Arts, as well as museums located in Luxembourg, Namur, Ostende, Mons, Dordrecht, Brighton and Barcelona.

Dimensions - 49cm x 42 cm