"two Dogs," By Alfred Swieykowski

The son of a Polish aristocrat who took refuge in Paris after his country was wiped off the map, Alfred Swieykowski, who inherited the title of count upon his father’s death, spent his entire life in France and became a naturalized French citizen in 1926, at the age of 57.

A student of Fernand Cormon and Paulin Bertrand, he initially focused on portraiture before turning to landscape painting around 1900.

Familiar with the Haute-Savoie region, which he had visited since childhood, he was an outstanding painter of mountains and snow, though Paris, Brittany, Normandy, and the Midi also inspired him.

Not content to limit himself to a single genre, he handled interior scenes, still lifes, and subjects featuring flowers and animals with equal skill.

Over time, his style underwent a profound evolution: his brushwork became freer and more energetic, while his palette grew lighter, under the influence of the Impressionists.

Exhibitions:

• 1892–1894: galleries on Rue de Seine in Paris
• 2010: La Ferrière-sur-Risle Cultural Center (Eure), as part of the 2010 Normandy Impressionist Festival.
• 2011: Fournaise Museum in Chatou, “Island of the Impressionists” (Yvelines)
• 2012: Faoüet Museum