Washing by the River | Henri Francois Perret

HENRI FRANCOIS PERRET
French, b. 1825

Lavandières au bord de la rivière

Oil on canvas | signed lower left "H. Perret"

17 1/4" H x 26 1/8" W [frame]
12 7/8" H x 21 7/8" W [canvas]

A lovely scene of women washing clothing along the river's edge, it is a scene and composition made famous during the Barbizon era by leading painters such as Charles Daubigny. The quiet pastoral quality of these scenes must have resonated strongly with the clientele during the late 19th century, as Henri François Perret painted many such scenes with a particular emphasis on strong contrast and dense atmosphere. In the present example, a heavy sky is illuminated by "golden hour" to create a warm beige glow that is reflected not only in the clouds of the overcast sky but in the water as it quietly moves through the stark brilliant greens of the meadow on either side. While the body of Perret's work is relatively uncatalogued, there are a handful of his paintings that have shown up on the auction market over the years. A daytime example of almost the same scene, though smaller, was offered at Vanderkindere in 2017. Perret's skill with evening and dusk scenes is better captured in the much smaller painting of Perret's with the river flowing from the opposite side and a bridge in the distance that offered at James Julia Auction in 2007 where it achieved $ 3450. The present example is a nice large example with a wonderful warmth to it. It is operates beautifully as a window for us into a different time, a quiet place uncomplicated by the machinery and complexity of the moment: the same timeless escapism Perret found his clients yearning for in the late 19th century when capturing these wonderful countryside visions.

Condition: Cleaned and conserved, old discolored synthetic varnish removed, overpaint in the sky removed and redone where appropriate, very minor inpainting executed, resealed in traditional Dammar varnish. Linen is not lined but the tacking edge is reinforced with linen tape. Original stretcher in excellent condition, all keys present. In a contemporary frame with overpainted silver and gold. Ready to place.

ref. 501GEZ02P