An original framed watercolor attributed to French artist Adrien Moreau (1843-1906). The image depicts a gallant interior scene: a well-dressed lady sits on a sofa while a gentleman kneels before her or makes a courteous gesture. This setting - with classical columns, a richly decorated salon and floral arrangements - suggests a historical atmosphere, probably in the late 18th or early 19th century. Adrien Moreau was known for such depictions of the aristocratic beau monde in days gone by. A copy of this work was later published in the works of Honore De Balzac.
Adrien Moreau's signature is present in the lower right corner of his work. Since this is a finely finished salon scene, a date between about 1875 and 1900 is obvious, when Moreau's historical genre scenes were very popular.
Adrien Nicolas Moreau (born April 18, 1843 in Troyes - died Feb. 22, 1906 in Paris) was a versatile French artist, active as a painter, illustrator and sculptor. He received his training at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, under the academic painters Léon Cogniet and Isidore Pils, among others. Moreau made his debut at the Paris Salon of 1868 and immediately gained recognition as a talented genre painter. After interruption by the Franco-German War (1870-71), he resumed his Salon entries in 1873 with great success.
Specifications
ConditionExcellentColorsBeigeMaterialPaperNumber of items1First ownerYesOrientationLandscapeArt sizeSmallHeight26 cmWidth34 cmDepth4 cm