Théodore Jourdan (1833-1908) Showman Of Bears And Exotic Animals In Provence

Oil on cardboard signed lower left T. Jourdan. Very rare scene in Provence of a bear and exotic animals showman. Is it written Sketch or the name of a city or something. The painting looks very well done.

At sight the cardboard measures 17.5 x 27 cm.
The frame measures 32 x 41.5 cm.

Biography :

A student at the School of Fine Arts in Marseille, Théodore Jourdan completed his studies in the studio of Émile Loubon in Paris. He mainly painted sites in Provence and especially pastoral scenes where the representation of sheep of the local breed of Merino d'Arles dominates. He made his debut at the Marseilles Exhibition of 1859 with A Visit to Nazareth. He then exhibited at the Salon des artistes français from 1865. He received a gold medal at the Universal Exhibition of 1879 in Sydney. He taught at the School of Fine Arts in Marseille from 1874 to 1903. He bequeathed to his hometown, Salon-de-Provence, 19 large-format canvases as well as numerous drawings in exchange for a lifetime pension to be paid to his widow: these paintings are kept in a room that bears his name in the Salon et de la Crau museum.