The Homely Woodland Nymph, Circa 1870: 19th Century Antique French Oil on Board on Canvas Painting

19th century

Sold by Skippings Fine Arts

Description

I love inventing titles, even though I may be stretching things a little here! And yet - the scene is so enigmatic: a young woman, in dressed in rather baggy garb, is lying in woodland, resting on her elbow, and looking straight at us. The light seems to come from the moon rather than the sun, adding to the mysterious atmosphere.

Dating from the 19th Century, and incredibly modern for its time, the painting has been attributed on the verso to Jean-Baptiste Bertrand (25 March 1823 Lyon - 26 Sept 1887 Orsay, Seine-et-Oise).

He initially studied with Étienne Rey and later of Jean-Claude Bonnefond at the École des Beaux-Arts in Lyon from 1840 to 1843.

Artist Alphonse Perin (1798–1874) suggested that he move to Paris, where he enrolled at the École des Beaux-Arts in 1844 and had his first Salon exhibition in 1857.

Bertrand travelled in Italy between 1857 and 1862. Returning to Paris, he befriended sculptors such as Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, Alexandre Falguière and Auguste Clésinger. Influenced by his sculptor contacts, Bertrand devoted himself from 1866 to allegories and genre scenes, departing from his early Nazarene style.

The painting presented here is an oil on board mounted on to canvas. You will have to forgive criss-cross cut marks that are visible on the surface, more from certain angles than from others. They are now part of this antique painting's story, in spite of its sensitive restoration. Measuring 13 x 27 cm, the painting is presented in a sumptuous frame. The overall framed size is 24 x 38 cm. Additional photos to follow.

Physical Dimensions

Height

13cm (5.12")

Width

27cm (10.63")

Depth

1cm (0.39")

Declaration

Skippings Fine Arts has dated this piece to the 1870s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA893431

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

“

Dating from the 19th Century, and incredibly modern for its time, the painting has been attributed on the verso to Jean-Baptiste Bertrand (25 March 1823 Lyon - 26 Sept 1887 Orsay, Seine-et-Oise).

Skippings Fine Arts

fig 1. The homely woodland nymph, circa 1870: 19th Century antique French oil on board on canvas painting — fig 1. The Homely Woodland Nymph, Circa 1870: 19th Century Antique French Oil on Board on Canvas Painting

He initially studied with Étienne Rey and later of Jean-Claude Bonnefond at the École des Beaux-Arts in Lyon from 1840 to 1843.

Artist Alphonse Perin (1798–1874) suggested that he move to Paris, where he enrolled at the École des Beaux-Arts in 1844 and had his first Salon exhibition in 1857.

fig 2. The homely woodland nymph, circa 1870: 19th Century antique French oil on board on canvas painting — fig 2. The Homely Woodland Nymph, Circa 1870: 19th Century Antique French Oil on Board on Canvas Painting

Bertrand travelled in Italy between 1857 and 1862. Returning to Paris, he befriended sculptors such as Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, Alexandre Falguière and Auguste Clésinger. Influenced by his sculptor contacts, Bertrand devoted himself from 1866 to allegories and genre scenes, departing from his early Nazarene style.

fig 3. The homely woodland nymph, circa 1870: 19th Century antique French oil on board on canvas painting — fig 3. The Homely Woodland Nymph, Circa 1870: 19th Century Antique French Oil on Board on Canvas Painting

The painting presented here is an oil on board mounted on to canvas. You will have to forgive criss-cross cut marks that are visible on the surface, more from certain angles than from others. They are now part of this antique painting's story, in spite of its sensitive restoration. Measuring 13 x 27 cm, the painting is presented in a sumptuous frame. The overall framed size is 24 x 38 cm. Additional photos to follow.