Fernand Maillaud (1863-1948) The Horse-drawn Carriage. Crozant School, Berry, Creuse Valley, Rollinat

A splendid small gouache by Fernand Maillaud depicting a rural scene with a horse-drawn carriage, signed lower right and titled on the back "Ploughman harnessing his horses" G140. The gouache alone measures 16 x 24.5 cm (excluding the frame) and 36.5 x 41.5 cm (including the frame). This is a superb post-Impressionist composition by Fernand Maillaud, who here creates a lively countryside scene with a horse-drawn carriage. He uses gouache, a medium he masters to perfection, especially in his small formats, which are almost all true gems. Perhaps this is the technique in which he excels most. Fernand Maillaud needs no introduction; he is an excellent, leading painter of the Crozant school, known for his views of the banks of the Creuse River, but also, and above all, for those of his native Berry region and finally, Provence, his second adopted home. His reputation is well established, even across the Atlantic where he enjoyed enormous success during his lifetime and continues to do so today. Maillaud achieved fame thanks to his rustic scenes of peasant life, as well as his renowned market scenes; but he was also recognized for his Orientalist scenes, his early views of Venice and Paris, some of which are held at the Carnavalet Museum in Paris. He was also close to the famous poet Maurice Rollinat, whom he sketched several times. His attachment to his native Berry region and to the Creuse department earned him a place among the finest painters of the Crozant school, alongside artists like Detroy, Guillaumin, and Alluaud. His popularity was thought to be waning, yet his paintings have recently sold for very high prices, reaching peaks of over €3,500. An emblematic painter of the Crozant school, but also of the Provençal school, he is renowned for his Orientalist scenes, portraits, tapestries, and even sculpted furniture. Several books exist on this artist. The gouache is in very good condition and comes in a beautiful modern frame. The artwork is guaranteed authentic.