Abbé Laurent Guétal (1841-1892) Bord De Sedelle. Crozant School, Hareux, Grenoble, Dauphiné

Superb and rather uncommon 19th century composition by Laurent Guétal depicting a Sedelle riverbank, circa 1880/1890, signed in point on the lower left + located on the back
Size of the canvas alone unframed 60x38cm and 80x58cm framed included
Delivered in its very beautiful period gilded frame in rather good condition.
The canvas is also in good condition, I'd just point out a tiny darning in the stream of 1cm² that's all.
Work guaranteed authentic

So this is a very fine 19th-century composition by Abbé Laurent Guétal who paints here a bank of the Sedelle in Creuse near Crozant, I think around 1880. It's a work produced during one of his stays in the Creuse region, and one immediately recognizes Guétal's light but very precise touch, with its palette full of subtlety and, of course, very close to reality. Of course, we can't help thinking of his faithful friend Ernest Hareux, as their works are quite similar. In fact, both were Grenoble natives, and both also frequented the Creuse region. Although Guétal painted much more in the Dauphiné, it was his Creuse works that were the most successful, which is why he returned there regularly.

Laurent Guétal, also known as Abbé Guétal, was a French Catholic priest, painter and engraver born in Vienne on December 12, 1841, and died in Grenoble on February 28, 1892

Laurent Guétal was ordained a priest in 1862, and spent most of his life at the Petit Séminaire du Rondeau, near Grenoble, whose surroundings he painted several times.
The influence of Jean Achard on Guétal is predominant, but nature is Guétal's second master. He attended the Crozant School. He was at the origin of the Dauphinoise School, whose members also included Ernest Victor Hareux, Charles Bertier and a few others. They were sometimes referred to as Dauphinois landscape painters. In 1875, he appeared in the first directory of the Société des touristes du Dauphiné, when it was founded.
One of his most famous paintings, Le Lac de l'Eychauda, won an award at the 1886 Salon and was selected for the 1889 Universal Exhibition. It is preserved in the Grenoble museum. His hometown also preserves Le Bout du monde à Allevard at the Musée des Beaux-Arts et d'Archéologie. He exhibited regularly at the Salon from 1882 to 1889.

Charles Bertier and André Albertin were his students.

Laurent Guétal died on February 28, 1892 and is buried in Grenoble's Saint-Roch cemetery

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