Constantin Font – Riverbank At The Foot Of The Mountains – Oil On Canvas – Signed

Constantin Font (1890–1954)
Riverbank at the Foot of the Mountains
Oil on canvas, signed lower right “Constantin Font”
Dimensions: 55 × 46 cm (10 Figure format) — 77.5 × 68.5 cm with frame
Very good condition

This oil on canvas depicts a calm stream at the foot of tall, forested mountains. In the foreground, the sunlit riverbank slopes down toward the water, where the trees are reflected and a few water lilies float. A group of tall poplars stands in the center, their light-colored foliage shimmering in the light. On the path to the right, two small figures bring the scene to life: one carries a tool over his shoulder—likely farmers returning from the fields.

The artist plays on the contrast between the dark, bluish mass of the mountain and the fresh green of the trees in the sunlight. The brushwork is quick and lively, applied in small dashes of color, in the spirit of Impressionist painting. It is a luminous work that conveys a genuine sense of the outdoors and the end of a summer day.

Condition and Presentation
Canvas in very good overall condition. On the back is the stamp of a framer and gallery owner in Algiers (Galerie d’Art, boulevard in Algiers), attesting to the work’s history—Font maintained close ties with North Africa through his Orientalist subjects.

The painting is set in a Montparnasse-style frame, made of carved wood with a fluted motif, gilded and patinated. The wooden structure is solid and in good condition; however, the gilding and finish show numerous areas where the paint has flaked off, leaving the original surface exposed. A brass plaque on the mat bears the inscription “C. Font — Grand Prix de Rome.”

The Artist
Constantin Font was born in Auch (Gers) on January 11, 1890, and died in Paris on January 25, 1954. A French painter, sculptor, and printmaker, he is known for his genre scenes, nudes, landscapes, and Orientalist subjects.

He trained in Fernand Cormon’s studio. After receiving his first honorable mention at the Salon in 1910, he won a silver medal at the Salon des Artistes Français in 1921, the same year he was awarded the Prix de Rome. He received the gold medal there the following year, in 1922. His career was marked by numerous awards: the Grand Prix d’Athènes, membership in the Académie des Beaux-Arts de Toulouse, the title of Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur in 1935, and the Grand Prix at the 1937 International Exposition.

His paintings are recognizable by their light color palette and vibrant brushwork, influenced by Impressionism. Several museums hold his works, notably in Strasbourg, Toulouse, Carcassonne, and Auch.

Work on view at the gallery (07240)
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