Narcisse Virgile Diaz De La Pena "gallant Scene In The Park" Oil Painting On Panel, Ca. 1850

This oil on mahogany panel by Narcisse Diaz de la Pena depicts an elegant genre scene in a garden or park, by a lively pond. A few ducks and four figures in 17th- or 18th-century-inspired costumes are gathered in an intimate atmosphere, suggesting a flirtatious conversation of a familial nature, possibly related to an engagement. The composition favors the suggestion of attitudes and glances over explicit narrative.

The warm palette, dominated by deep greens and golden tones, highlights the light-colored figures against a shaded background. The work illustrates Diaz de la Peña's taste for elegant and timeless scenes.

The painting is monogrammed "ND" in the lower right corner for Narcisse Virgile Diaz de la Pena (see image) and is unframed. It is in good condition, but a good cleaning would be beneficial, and framing would enhance its appearance.

Biography: Narcisse-Virgile Diaz de la Peña was born in Bordeaux in 1807 into a family of Spanish origin. Orphaned at a young age, he was raised near Paris and initially trained as a porcelain painter at the Sèvres factory. A self-taught artist, he supplemented his training by copying the Old Masters at the Louvre. Marked by a serious accident in his youth, which cost him a leg, he developed an independent and tenacious artistic personality.

He debuted at the Salon in 1831 with Romantic and Orientalist scenes. From the 1830s and 1840s onward, his encounter with Théodore Rousseau led him to landscape painting and established him as one of the leading figures of the Barbizon School. He is particularly renowned for his views of the Fontainebleau forest, rendered with a profound sensitivity to light and color.

At the same time, he produced numerous genre scenes and gallant compositions, highly sought after by the 19th-century art market. His style, rich in texture and chromatic contrasts, foreshadows in some respects the explorations of the Impressionists. Diaz de la Peña died in 1876 in Menton, leaving behind a substantial body of work now held in numerous international museums.