Adolphe-jules Pouessel - Still Life With Statue And Books

This evocative still life by French academic painter Adolphe-Jules Pouessel presents a refined interior composition centered around a statue of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, the early Christian martyr renowned for her intellect and spiritual strength. She is depicted with her traditional attributes: a sword, symbol of her martyrdom, and a book, representing divine wisdom.

Arranged thoughtfully around the sculpture are several antique leather-bound books, an illuminated folio page, and a small bronze bust - likely a representation of a humanist or scholar. The scene unfolds atop a warm-toned cloth, with a neutral drapery and golden frame forming the contemplative backdrop. A delicate balance between devotion and learning is evoked in this symbolic tableau.

Pouessel’s brushwork is precise and restrained, in keeping with the late academic tradition, and his earthy palette - rich in ochres, umbers, and soft grays - enhances the spiritual solemnity of the subject. The light source, softly filtered, creates subtle highlights across surfaces of leather, paper, and bronze, imbuing the composition with a quiet sense of reverence.

Presented at the Salon des Artistes Français in 1942, the painting exemplifies Pouessel’s mature style, steeped in classical training and imbued with symbolic introspection. A rare surviving work from a time of cultural upheaval in France, it stands as a testament to the enduring power of tradition, faith, and intellectual heritage.

Adolphe-Jules Pouessel was a French painter active during the first half of the 20th century, known for his still lifes, interior scenes, and religious compositions marked by deep symbolic sensitivity. Born in 1877, he was trained in the French academic tradition and regularly participated in official exhibitions, most notably the Salon des Artistes Français, where he exhibited works between the 1920s and 1940s.

His painting is characterized by a restrained palette, refined detail, and introspective atmosphere, echoing the style of artists such as Jean-Paul Laurens or Édouard Debat-Ponsan. In his still lifes, he often incorporated symbols of faith, knowledge, and history - including statues of saints, illuminated manuscripts, and liturgical objects - imbuing his compositions with a dense and evocative visual narrative.

Pouessel died in Paris in 1954, leaving behind a modest yet valuable legacy, today appreciated by collectors of 20th-century French art, regional museums, and galleries specializing in academic figurative painting. His work offers a window into a time when tradition and spirituality still held a central place in artistic practice.

Artist: Adolphe-Jules Pouessel (1877–1954)
Signed in the lower left corner.
Medium: Oil on canvas.
Condition: Very good condition.
Dimensions: 65 x 50 cm. / 25 1/2 x 19 3/4 in.
Frame: Unframed.