Large oil painting by C. Delort entitled ‘The Wedding, Fontainebleau’

Large oil painting by C. Delort entitled ‘The Wedding, Fontainebleau’

French, Late 19th Century

Canvas: Height 90cm, width 130cm

Frame: Height 109cm, width 148cm, depth 7cm



This stunning large-scale oil painting is entitled ‘Les Noces, Fontainebleau’ (‘The Wedding, Fontainebleau’), and depicts a wedding reception set in the picturesque forest of Fontainebleau.



The canvas is filled with figures, separated into small groups that are scattered around the scene. At the centre is the bride who greets a male guest, surrounded by a group of well-dressed women. The woman in purple in particular catches the viewer’s eye, as she stares straight out of the canvas, cleverly inviting the viewer into the scene. The artist has paid great attention to accurately depicting contemporary modes of dress, and each garment is expertly rendered. This emphasis on fashion, combined with the atmosphere of lively chatter, effectively conveys the social preoccupations of the Belle Époque bourgeoisie which Delort takes as his subjects.



The reception is set in a quiet corner of the Fontainebleau Forest, a highly popular weekend getaway for Parisians at the time. The natural environment is rendered with great delicacy, with the lush greens contrasted by fallen leaves that indicate a change in the season. In the left-hand background, the viewer can glimpse a corner of an impressive chateau, as well as ornate pieces of furniture which add further luxury to the scene.



At the base of the carved giltwood frame sits an inscribed title plaque, and the canvas is signed in the lower right corner ‘C. Delort’. French painter Charles Édouard Delort (1841-1895) studied at the École des Beaux-Arts under the tutelage of Gabriel-Charles Gleyre and Jean-Léon Gérôme. This large-scale painting, which depicts figures and a setting contemporary to Delort’s own era, is an impressive departure from his typical oeuvre, which tended towards small-scale 18th century scenes.



This wedding party is filled with vibrant colours and meticulous details that emphasise Delort’s painterly skill.



Provenance

- Anon. sale, New York, 18 October 1944.

- With Richard Green, London.

- Sold at Christie's, New York, 6 May 1999, lot 55 ($96,000)

- With MacConnal-Mason & Son, Ltd., London.



Artist/Maker: Charles Édouard Delort

Materials: Oil on canvas, giltwood

Ref: 17509



$93,750