Théodore Lévigne – Elegant Woman In The Rain - Oil On Canvas – Signed

Théodore LÉVIGNE (1848-1912)
Elegant Woman in the Rain
Oil on canvas
Signed lower left
46 × 38 cm

This oil on canvas by Théodore Lévigne brilliantly illustrates the artist's talent for capturing scenes of Parisian life during the Belle Époque. The work depicts an elegant young woman crossing a misty alley in rainy weather, sheltered by a black parasol that echoes her fitted jacket. Dressed in a powder-pink dress adorned with white lace, she embodies the grace and refinement of the Parisian bourgeoisie of the late 19th century.

The composition is distinguished by its characteristic hazy atmosphere, where Lévigne deploys a subtle palette of grays, blues, and greens that evoke the ambient dampness. The trees blend into the mist, creating remarkable atmospheric depth. In the background, discreet figures enliven the scene while maintaining focus on the central figure: a man wearing a top hat, a couple sheltering under an umbrella, and a horse-drawn carriage complete this evocation of Parisian life.

The painter's touch is both fluid and precise, particularly evident in the rendering of reflections on the wet ground and the texture of the threatening clouds, nonetheless traversed by touches of azure blue.

The work is signed in the lower left corner. It is in very good condition. It is presented in a modern frame, also in very good condition.

The artist
Born in 1848 in Noirétable in the Loire region, Théodore Lévigne established himself as one of the major figures of the Lyon School in the second half of the 19th century. Admitted to the Imperial School of Fine Arts in Lyon in 1860, he quickly distinguished himself and, in 1863, at only fifteen years old, won the Golden Laurel for his work, A Portrait. Thanks to a scholarship from the City of Lyon, he went on to the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he studied under Alexandre Cabanel and Jean-Léon Gérôme.

In 1867, at nineteen, he decorated the Jesuit chapel in Avignon, painting 112 life-size saints in three months. He then traveled to Sicily, where he further refined his art. The Franco-Prussian War of 1870 interrupted his Italian journey; wounded, he volunteered for the 1st Legion of the Rhône.

A remarkably versatile realist painter, Lévigne excelled in all genres: landscapes, genre scenes, portraits, still lifes, and large-scale historical and military frescoes. Settled in Saint-Romain-au-Mont-d'Or, he developed a personal style that combined academic training with an atmospheric sensibility akin to Impressionism. His Parisian and Lyonnais scenes are distinguished by their hazy atmospheres and characteristic half-tones.

A prolific artist, he exhibited regularly at the Paris Salon and became a respected figure in the Lyon art scene. His works are now featured in numerous French museums. Théodore Lévigne died in Lyon in 1912, leaving behind a substantial body of work that bears witness to French life during the Belle Époque.

Artwork on display at the gallery (07240).
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