When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
A gorgeous original painting by French impressionist artist Paul-Albert Besnard. It is titled Danse Basque and was painted in 1901.* A classic French impressionist work with dozens of figures at an outdoor gathering, beautifully painted with bold strokes of thick paint contrasting areas of blended color; a luscious surface. Wonderful details down to the little dog in the corner. The ornate gold frame is most likely original to the piece.
This is Besnard's original oil painting. It is not a reproduction or any kind of copy. It was purchased from a wealthy Montecito estate where it was hanging in the front entrance. I found documentation of this work in the Database of Modern Exhibitions, and one early (photogravure?) image of it that was published in a catalog or monograph. Feel free to contact me for additional pictures or details.
Paul-Albert Besnard (1849-1934)Danse Basque1900sParis, France*Dated 1901 (though some online references list it as 1906)Oil on canvas, framed in goldSigned "A. Besnard, 1901" and stamped on stretcher bar "modele depose"Normal age and wear. Overall pattern of craquelure. Faint imprint of stretcher bars on canvas. Surface dirt and somewhat darkened varnish.Painting approximately 20" by 24." Framed 28 1/2" by 32 3/4."
Born on June 2, 1849 in Paris as Paul Albert Besnard, he is most acclaimed for his ideological and decorative works, including his frescoes at the Sorbonne, the Ecole de Pharmacie, the ceiling of the Comédie-Française (main theatre in Paris), the Salle des Sciences at the Hôtel de Ville, the mairie of the Ier arrondissement, and the chapel of Berck hospital, for which he painted twelve Stations of the Cross.
In 1866, the seventeen-year-old son of artist parents began his studies at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts Paris. In 1874, Besnard won the important Prix de Rome, with which the academy distinguished young talent. A portion of the scholarship is a stay of several years in Rome. Besnard married Charlotte Dubray, a sculptress, during this time in Rome. The couple lived in England, where Besnard exhibited at the Royal Academy London, between 1881 and 1884. He became involved with English portrait painting during this period, which had a lasting influence on him.
In the years that followed, Besnard broke with the academic tradition. In 1886, he presented the portrait of Madame Roger Jourdain at the Paris Salon, which showed his new characteristic style: Inspired by the contemporary group of impressionists of this time, Besnard attempted to capture light and color in his works. "However, the artist was not an impressionist in the actual sense; he adopted the technique for the precise analysis of lighting, but did not entirely share in the impressionist interest in the realistic reproduction of impressions." (art-directory)
Besnard was a master of his trade and had a good command of painting in watercolors, pastels, and oil, as well as etching. He found his motifs both in portrait painting and in landscape painting.
In 1913, Besnard was appointed to be the director of Villa Medici in Rome; in 1922, he became the director of the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. In 1924, he became the first painter since 1760 to be elected as a member of the Académie Française, one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions of the French intellectual world.
Albert Besnard died in Paris on December 4, 1934.
SHIPPING: Generally free within the United States via USPS FedEx. Please allow several days for packaging and handling.INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING:Usually available; please inquire.SELLER: Experienced seller offering excellent service. Please contact me with any questions.
