Alexandre Courtines – Portrait Of A Saint With A Halo – Oil On Canvas – Dated And Signed

Alexandre COURTINES (1857-1923)
Portrait of a Saint with a Halo
Oil on canvas
Signed and dated 1899
46 x 38 cm

This unique work by Alexandre Courtines depicts a young saint with a halo, her gaze turned towards heaven in an attitude of mystical contemplation. The delicate face with its fine features is framed by flowing auburn hair that harmonizes beautifully with the golden tones of the halo. The luminous palette emphasizes the celestial blues of the background, the pearly whites of the tunic, and the deep greens of the cloak that elegantly drapes the subject's shoulder.

This portrait reveals an unusual facet of Courtines' talent, known primarily for his realistic works—landscapes, portraits, and posters. This foray into religious iconography and the idealized register constitutes a remarkable exception in his oeuvre. Dated 1899, a period of artistic maturity, this canvas reveals the artist's technical mastery in rendering flesh tones and light, while also illustrating his ability to explore themes far removed from his usual repertoire.

The work is signed and dated in the lower right corner. It is in very good condition, with a small restoration visible on the back. It is framed with a molded and gilded wooden frame, also in good condition.

The artist
French painter and draftsman Alexandre Etienne Marie Courtines was a professor of painting and drawing at the École des Beaux-Arts in Montpellier. Active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, he contributed to the interior decoration of the Opéra Comédie in Montpellier, notably creating the allegory of Dance for the grand foyer. A student of Alexandre Cabanel at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, Courtines practiced portraiture, landscape painting, and poster design. Several of his posters are held at the Bibliothèque nationale de France.

Artwork on display at the gallery (07240).
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