Théodore Lévigne – Portrait Of A Young Woman In A Blue Dress – Oil On Canvas – Signed And Dated 1904
Artist: Lévigne Théodore (1848 – 1912, France)
THÉODORE LÉVIGNE (1848–1912)
Portrait of a Young Woman in a Blue Dress, 1904
Oil on canvas, octagonal format
Signed twice: “Théodore Lévigne” and dated 1904 on the right, “Lévigne” on the left
73 × 52.5 cm – 84.5 × 65 cm with frame
Very good condition
Art Nouveau frame in wood and gilded stucco, early 20th century, reinforced on the back (see note below)
She has pulled her hair up into a high bun, but a long brown lock falls freely over her shoulder, almost to her waist. This is the detail one notices first, and it conveys the essence: she is a very young woman, and the painter sought to preserve this naturalness.
The face is rendered with great delicacy. The modeling is soft, the skin fair, with just a hint of pink on the cheeks. Her lips form a subtle smile. Her brown eyes, turned toward the painter, are calm and attentive, with a touch of reserve. Here, Lévigne works with finesse, stroke by stroke, leaving nothing to chance.
For the dress, he changes his approach completely. The pale blue silk is painted with broad, swift strokes. The bands of white lace on the bodice and sleeves are applied in thick impasto, creating small reliefs that catch the light. The same is true of the small bouquet of pink and white flowers pinned to her shoulder. This transition from precise brushwork on the face to a free and lively style for the costume is the hallmark of an experienced painter. In 1904, Lévigne was 56 years old and had mastered his craft perfectly.
The solid gray-blue background brings out the blue of the dress and the deep brown of her hair.
Lévigne is best known for his scenes along the Saône River, his snowy landscapes, and his genre scenes. His portraits are much rarer on the market, and we have never seen one as accomplished or as sensitive as this one.
The canvas is in very good condition. It is set in a beautiful Art Nouveau frame made of wood and gilded stucco, which mirrors its octagonal shape, with foliage and small flowers adorning the entire border. The frame was restored a few years ago: the segments were re-glued and reinforced on the back with Plexiglas panels. It is now sturdy. One flaw remains: the two side rails of the frame and the stretcher are not the same length, which slightly throws the composition off balance.
The Artist
Born on November 17, 1848, in Noirétable, in the Loire region, Théodore Lévigne was one of the leading 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 the age of fifteen—was awarded the Laurier d’Or. A scholarship from the City of Lyon enabled him to attend the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he studied in the studios of Alexandre Cabanel and Jean-Léon Gérôme.
In 1867, at the age of nineteen, he decorated the Jesuit chapel in Avignon: 112 life-size saints in three months. He then spent time in Sicily, where he perfected his fresco technique and his rendering of fabrics. The war of 1870 interrupted this trip; after being wounded, he enlisted as a volunteer in the 1st Rhône Legion.
A highly versatile realist painter, Lévigne tackled every genre: landscapes, genre scenes, portraits, still lifes, and large-scale historical and military compositions. Settling in Saint-Romain-au-Mont-d’Or, on the heights overlooking the Saône, he painted the river and its villages tirelessly, developing a personal style that combined his academic training with an atmospheric sensibility close to Impressionism. His winter landscapes, with their subtle hues and low-hanging sunlit skies, are among his most recognizable masterpieces.
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 several French museums. He died in Lyon on November 11, 1912, and is buried in Saint-Romain-au-Mont-d’Or.
Work on view at the gallery (07240)
Shipping: Please contact us for shipping rates within France and internationally.
Portrait of a Young Woman in a Blue Dress, 1904
Oil on canvas, octagonal format
Signed twice: “Théodore Lévigne” and dated 1904 on the right, “Lévigne” on the left
73 × 52.5 cm – 84.5 × 65 cm with frame
Very good condition
Art Nouveau frame in wood and gilded stucco, early 20th century, reinforced on the back (see note below)
She has pulled her hair up into a high bun, but a long brown lock falls freely over her shoulder, almost to her waist. This is the detail one notices first, and it conveys the essence: she is a very young woman, and the painter sought to preserve this naturalness.
The face is rendered with great delicacy. The modeling is soft, the skin fair, with just a hint of pink on the cheeks. Her lips form a subtle smile. Her brown eyes, turned toward the painter, are calm and attentive, with a touch of reserve. Here, Lévigne works with finesse, stroke by stroke, leaving nothing to chance.
For the dress, he changes his approach completely. The pale blue silk is painted with broad, swift strokes. The bands of white lace on the bodice and sleeves are applied in thick impasto, creating small reliefs that catch the light. The same is true of the small bouquet of pink and white flowers pinned to her shoulder. This transition from precise brushwork on the face to a free and lively style for the costume is the hallmark of an experienced painter. In 1904, Lévigne was 56 years old and had mastered his craft perfectly.
The solid gray-blue background brings out the blue of the dress and the deep brown of her hair.
Lévigne is best known for his scenes along the Saône River, his snowy landscapes, and his genre scenes. His portraits are much rarer on the market, and we have never seen one as accomplished or as sensitive as this one.
The canvas is in very good condition. It is set in a beautiful Art Nouveau frame made of wood and gilded stucco, which mirrors its octagonal shape, with foliage and small flowers adorning the entire border. The frame was restored a few years ago: the segments were re-glued and reinforced on the back with Plexiglas panels. It is now sturdy. One flaw remains: the two side rails of the frame and the stretcher are not the same length, which slightly throws the composition off balance.
The Artist
Born on November 17, 1848, in Noirétable, in the Loire region, Théodore Lévigne was one of the leading 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 the age of fifteen—was awarded the Laurier d’Or. A scholarship from the City of Lyon enabled him to attend the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he studied in the studios of Alexandre Cabanel and Jean-Léon Gérôme.
In 1867, at the age of nineteen, he decorated the Jesuit chapel in Avignon: 112 life-size saints in three months. He then spent time in Sicily, where he perfected his fresco technique and his rendering of fabrics. The war of 1870 interrupted this trip; after being wounded, he enlisted as a volunteer in the 1st Rhône Legion.
A highly versatile realist painter, Lévigne tackled every genre: landscapes, genre scenes, portraits, still lifes, and large-scale historical and military compositions. Settling in Saint-Romain-au-Mont-d’Or, on the heights overlooking the Saône, he painted the river and its villages tirelessly, developing a personal style that combined his academic training with an atmospheric sensibility close to Impressionism. His winter landscapes, with their subtle hues and low-hanging sunlit skies, are among his most recognizable masterpieces.
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 several French museums. He died in Lyon on November 11, 1912, and is buried in Saint-Romain-au-Mont-d’Or.
Work on view at the gallery (07240)
Shipping: Please contact us for shipping rates within France and internationally.
1 200 €
Period: 20th century
Style: Art Nouveau
Condition: Excellent condition
Material: Oil painting
Width: 52,5 cm / 65 cm encadré
Height: 73 cm / 84,5 cm encadré
Reference (ID): 1824676
Availability: In stock
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