THIS OBJECT WAS SOLD
Henri Vignet (1857-1920) The Staircases Of Montmartre 1900
The Work :
This luminous oil on canvas is a characteristic work by Henri Vignet, a painter and decorator close to the spirit of the late 19th century. It depicts the picturesque steps of the Rue Gabrielle in the Montmartre district, enlivened by the discreet and touching presence of two children sitting on the steps in the foreground.
Vignet captures here the gentleness of a sunny day. The light plays on the pale facades of the buildings and filters through the verdant foliage of the central tree, creating a peaceful and timeless atmosphere. The ascending perspective of the steps, punctuated by the wrought-iron lampposts, guides the eye towards the top of the hill.
This structure gives the canvas a beautiful depth. The presence of the two young children brings a human dimension and a certain tenderness to this urban scene. The treatment of the walls, a blend of stone and plaster, demonstrates a great sensitivity to textures. The work bears a handwritten dedication in the lower left corner: "To Dorival, with kind regards, H. Vignet." This mention adds an extra layer of soul and authenticity, testifying to the connection between the artist and Georges Édouard Lemarchand, known as Dorival, an actor and great art collector. Who was Dorival? Georges Édouard Lemarchand, known as Dorival or Georges Dorival, was born on December 26, 1871, in Orival-lès-Elbeuf and died at his home at 33 Boulevard de Clichy in the 9th arrondissement of Paris on July 16, 1939.
He was a French actor of Norman origin, like the painter of this work, Henri Vignet, who was also a painter and art collector. A member of the Odéon troupe (1896-1914), he joined the Comédie-Française in 1917, becoming its longest-serving member until his death in 1939. A champion of open-air theatre tours, he performed in venues including the arenas of Béziers, Nîmes, and Arles, as well as the ancient Roman theatre of Orange.
He undertook triumphant tours performing Edmond Rostand's Chantecler. He also appeared in numerous short films and several important feature films between 1909 and 1938. A prominent figure in interwar Paris, and a painter himself in his youth (on earthenware), he was passionate about painting and amassed a fine collection of works from the 1920s and 30s.
He was the first to purchase works from Maurice Utrillo and a patron of Pierre Dumont.
Portrait of Madame Dorival, one of two portraits of Blanche Dorival, painted in 1916 by Amédée Modigliani. Upon his death in 1939, he left to his wife, Blanche Antonia Dorival, née James on December 7, 1870, in Philadelphia, USA, an actress, married to Dorival on August 3, 1899, and portrayed twice by Modigliani in 1916, a collection of paintings by modern masters: Ed. Manet, A. Renoir, A. Modigliani, K. Van Dongen, A. Lhote, P. Hodé, M. Utrillo, Max Jacob, J. Metzinger, P. Dumont, and E. Tirvert. He was a friend of Raoul Dufy and Robert Delaunay. The couple is depicted with their daughter by the Norman painter Eugène Tirvert. The Dorival children became frequent visitors to Boulevard de Clichy, and among others, the painter Gen Paul, a friend of Dorival, painted their portraits, often as little musicians. On the back of the stretcher, the work is located in Paris, on Rue Gabrielle, dated 1900, with the inscription "Birthplace of the Opera Dancer" (Tilléo?? undeciphered).
The Artist :
Henri Vignet (Rouen 1857- Nyons 1920) Henri Vignet actively contributed to the development of the Rouen School, a post-Impressionist movement that brought together painters inspired by the Normandy countryside and urban landscapes, particularly those imbued with light and texture.
His works were praised for their ability to capture everyday life, both in the simplicity of rural Normandy landscapes and in the vitality of Parisian and Montmartre urban scenes. From Rouen to Montmartre. He studied in Paris, where he was trained in the major artistic movements of the late 19th century. His studies were influenced by the Barbizon School, whose artists favored natural landscapes painted en plein air, as well as by the innovative approach of the Impressionists, from whom he drew his interest in the interplay of light and changing atmospheres.
His paintings illustrate a delicate attention to the effects of light and changing atmospheres, central characteristics of the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist movements. The technique of painting en plein air, which he practiced regularly, allowed him to imbue his works with remarkable depth and spontaneity. Henri Vignet's landscapes and scenes are distinguished by their soft texture, fluid brushwork, and subtle use of color.
A complete and versatile artist, he also worked as a decorator, antique dealer, and naturalist. He exhibited in prestigious salons such as the Salon des Indépendants and the Salon d'Automne in Paris. Vignet was also a member of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, a leading organization in the French art world of the time.
This luminous oil on canvas is a characteristic work by Henri Vignet, a painter and decorator close to the spirit of the late 19th century. It depicts the picturesque steps of the Rue Gabrielle in the Montmartre district, enlivened by the discreet and touching presence of two children sitting on the steps in the foreground.
Vignet captures here the gentleness of a sunny day. The light plays on the pale facades of the buildings and filters through the verdant foliage of the central tree, creating a peaceful and timeless atmosphere. The ascending perspective of the steps, punctuated by the wrought-iron lampposts, guides the eye towards the top of the hill.
This structure gives the canvas a beautiful depth. The presence of the two young children brings a human dimension and a certain tenderness to this urban scene. The treatment of the walls, a blend of stone and plaster, demonstrates a great sensitivity to textures. The work bears a handwritten dedication in the lower left corner: "To Dorival, with kind regards, H. Vignet." This mention adds an extra layer of soul and authenticity, testifying to the connection between the artist and Georges Édouard Lemarchand, known as Dorival, an actor and great art collector. Who was Dorival? Georges Édouard Lemarchand, known as Dorival or Georges Dorival, was born on December 26, 1871, in Orival-lès-Elbeuf and died at his home at 33 Boulevard de Clichy in the 9th arrondissement of Paris on July 16, 1939.
He was a French actor of Norman origin, like the painter of this work, Henri Vignet, who was also a painter and art collector. A member of the Odéon troupe (1896-1914), he joined the Comédie-Française in 1917, becoming its longest-serving member until his death in 1939. A champion of open-air theatre tours, he performed in venues including the arenas of Béziers, Nîmes, and Arles, as well as the ancient Roman theatre of Orange.
He undertook triumphant tours performing Edmond Rostand's Chantecler. He also appeared in numerous short films and several important feature films between 1909 and 1938. A prominent figure in interwar Paris, and a painter himself in his youth (on earthenware), he was passionate about painting and amassed a fine collection of works from the 1920s and 30s.
He was the first to purchase works from Maurice Utrillo and a patron of Pierre Dumont.
Portrait of Madame Dorival, one of two portraits of Blanche Dorival, painted in 1916 by Amédée Modigliani. Upon his death in 1939, he left to his wife, Blanche Antonia Dorival, née James on December 7, 1870, in Philadelphia, USA, an actress, married to Dorival on August 3, 1899, and portrayed twice by Modigliani in 1916, a collection of paintings by modern masters: Ed. Manet, A. Renoir, A. Modigliani, K. Van Dongen, A. Lhote, P. Hodé, M. Utrillo, Max Jacob, J. Metzinger, P. Dumont, and E. Tirvert. He was a friend of Raoul Dufy and Robert Delaunay. The couple is depicted with their daughter by the Norman painter Eugène Tirvert. The Dorival children became frequent visitors to Boulevard de Clichy, and among others, the painter Gen Paul, a friend of Dorival, painted their portraits, often as little musicians. On the back of the stretcher, the work is located in Paris, on Rue Gabrielle, dated 1900, with the inscription "Birthplace of the Opera Dancer" (Tilléo?? undeciphered).
The Artist :
Henri Vignet (Rouen 1857- Nyons 1920) Henri Vignet actively contributed to the development of the Rouen School, a post-Impressionist movement that brought together painters inspired by the Normandy countryside and urban landscapes, particularly those imbued with light and texture.
His works were praised for their ability to capture everyday life, both in the simplicity of rural Normandy landscapes and in the vitality of Parisian and Montmartre urban scenes. From Rouen to Montmartre. He studied in Paris, where he was trained in the major artistic movements of the late 19th century. His studies were influenced by the Barbizon School, whose artists favored natural landscapes painted en plein air, as well as by the innovative approach of the Impressionists, from whom he drew his interest in the interplay of light and changing atmospheres.
His paintings illustrate a delicate attention to the effects of light and changing atmospheres, central characteristics of the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist movements. The technique of painting en plein air, which he practiced regularly, allowed him to imbue his works with remarkable depth and spontaneity. Henri Vignet's landscapes and scenes are distinguished by their soft texture, fluid brushwork, and subtle use of color.
A complete and versatile artist, he also worked as a decorator, antique dealer, and naturalist. He exhibited in prestigious salons such as the Salon des Indépendants and the Salon d'Automne in Paris. Vignet was also a member of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, a leading organization in the French art world of the time.
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