Figure on a Country Path, Winter 1912 Virtuoso Mystery French Landscape Oil on Board

1900 - 1920

Sold by Skippings Fine Arts

Description

One time, acquiring a picture directly from an artist, the latter said to me: "my heart was in it when I painted it". I have always remembered it, as I realised this was not at all a given.

And I am certain that the heart of the artist who painted this little painting was in it, also. That is what makes it so special. You can sense his engagement, in the way he brings to life the modest landscape he depicts. Defined with a few lines and a splash of green, there is something specific about that tiny patch of garden near the house. A loving attention to detail, the humble woman in her blue skirt, carrying something over her arm - could she have been the artist's mother? Although the scene is conventional - a figure walking along the the path - there is a great freedom in the execution, loose lines and unexpected dashes of pear green and mint blue. Discreet, never flashy, and spot on.

Our oil on board is monogrammed RG at the lower right. On the verso, somebody took pains to record details of the work: the artist's name (René Garrett), where and when it was painted (near Vesoul, in Burgundy, in 1912), and the name of the collector who previously owned it. I have not been able to find any biographical information on the artist, which is unusual, as I am an experienced researcher. My hunch: the painting was painted by a young artist. It has that freshness. Of someone still respectful of tradition, but about to break with it. He may have gone to war in 1914 and not return. That would explain his total anonymity. But this is just guesswork.

The painting measures 24 x 19 cm. In its original frame, the overall size is 34 x 30 cm

Physical Dimensions

Height

24cm (9.45")

Width

19cm (7.48")

Depth

1cm (0.39")

Declaration

Skippings Fine Arts has dated this piece to the 1910s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA705294

Dealers Notes

Nous parlons français, und wir sprechen auch Deutsch! Paintings may be viewed in Norwich and in Paris, as well as in London and Cambridge by appointment. Please contact us if you would like further details and images of an artwork.

Description

One time, acquiring a picture directly from an artist, the latter said to me: "my heart was in it when I painted it". I have always remembered it, as I realised this was not at all a given.

And I am certain that the heart of the artist who painted this little painting was in it, also. That is what makes it so special. You can sense his engagement, in the way he brings to life the modest landscape he depicts.

“

Defined with a few lines and a splash of green, there is something specific about that tiny patch of garden near the house.

Skippings Fine Arts

A loving attention to detail, the humble woman in her blue skirt, carrying something over her arm - could she have been the artist's mother? Although the scene is conventional - a figure walking along the the path - there is a great freedom in the execution, loose lines and unexpected dashes of pear green and mint blue. Discreet, never flashy, and spot on.

fig 1. Figure on a country path, winter 1912 virtuoso mystery French landscape oil on board — fig 1. Figure on a Country Path, Winter 1912 Virtuoso Mystery French Landscape Oil on Board

Our oil on board is monogrammed RG at the lower right. On the verso, somebody took pains to record details of the work: the artist's name (René Garrett), where and when it was painted (near Vesoul, in Burgundy, in 1912), and the name of the collector who previously owned it. I have not been able to find any biographical information on the artist, which is unusual, as I am an experienced researcher. My hunch: the painting was painted by a young artist. It has that freshness. Of someone still respectful of tradition, but about to break with it. He may have gone to war in 1914 and not return. That would explain his total anonymity. But this is just guesswork.

The painting measures 24 x 19 cm. In its original frame, the overall size is 34 x 30 cm