Henri Joseph Harpignies Ink Wash Path In The Undergrowth

Ink wash depicting a path crossing a wooded landscape crossed by a path, by Henri Joseph Harpignies, signed lower left. Beautiful mastery bringing out the light of the clearing. Wash in very good condition, under mat, in a gilded wooden frame. Dimensions at sight of the wash 24.5x17 cm Total dimensions, with frame, 35.5x28 cm Henri Joseph Harpignies born in Valenciennes (North) on June 28, 1819 and died in Saint-Privé (Yonne) on August 28, 1916 is a landscape painter, French watercolorist and engraver from the Barbizon School. Henri Joseph Harpignies' parents intended him for a commercial career but his determination to become a painter led them to authorize him to enter the studio of Jean Achard in Paris in 1846. After two years of training, he left to travel in Italy. Returning to France in 1850, Henri Harpignies devoted himself to children's romps in a landscape environment and joined Corot and the Barbizon School, whose influence he was influenced by. Friendly, the two artists traveled together to Italy in 1860. In 1859, he collaborated on the decoration of the staff room of the Charité hospital in Paris, partially reconstructed at the Public Assistance Museum. On his return from Italy in 1861, he achieved his first success at the Salon with his Lisière de bois sur les banks de l'Allier. He then exhibited regularly at the Salon. In 1866, he received his first medal for Le Soir dans la campagne de Rome, acquired by the State. He then lived at 185, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré in the 8th arrondissement of Paris (where a commemorative plaque pays tribute to him) before moving to 9, rue Coëtlogon. During his very long career, Henri Harpignies painted a large number of works in Hérisson in Bourbonnais, as well as in Nivernais and Auvergne. He created decorative works for the Paris Opera, including the Val d'Égrie panel, which he exhibited at the Salon in 1870. He was a friend of Léon Bonnat who painted his portrait twice in 1889 (Musée des Beaux- Arts de Valenciennes and Petit Palais in Paris). He painted the stained glass windows of the Château de Trousse-Barrière in Briare in 1895. In 1898, he was named Honorary Rosati. He will be rewarded many times. Medals at the Paris Salon in 1866, 1868 and 1869. Second class medal (silver) at the Universal Exhibition of 1878. Medal of honor in 1897 for Solitude and Bords du Rhône. In 1875, he was named a knight, then promoted to officer (1883), elevated to the rank of commander (1901) then grand officer (1911) of the national order of the Legion of Honor. Harpignies also made a very special place for himself as a watercolorist. We can say that he was to the Barbizon School what Guillaumin would be to the Impressionists. Anatole France called him the “Michelangelo of trees and peaceful countryside”. Bibliography • Benezit Dictionary. • Dictionary of French landscape painters in the 19th century - L Harembourg • La France Illustrée, no. 1176, June 12, 1897, p. 24. • Society of French artists, Explanation of works of painting, sculpture, architecture…, Salon of 1897. • Henri Harpignies 1819 1916. Painting nature, [exhibition catalog], Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire, Museum of Loire, 2016, 51 p. • Elric (drawing) and François Darnaudet (screenplay), Harpignies, Paquet, 2014. Museums France • Paris, Le Louvre; Petit Palais • Lille, Palais des Beaux-Arts: View taken in Moncel-sur-Seille (Meurthe-et-Moselle), circa 1868 United States • New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art: Landscape with a city in the distance • Tulsa, Philbrook Museum of Art: Railway bridge over the Briare. • Washington, National Gallery of Art: Landscape in Auvergne. Canada • Montreal, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts: Moonlight (1889) • Quebec, National Museum of Fine Arts of Quebec: Argentine Landscape • Buenos Aires, National Museum of Fine Arts: The Briare Canal.