Late 19th Or Early 20th Century. Oil On Panel. Study For A Banquet

A small wooden panel depicts a banquet in the countryside, with numerous guests, women in crinolines, children sitting on the ground, and servants standing—a lively and rich atmosphere suggested with quick, bold brushstrokes that focus more on the silhouettes than on the details. 
This is a study, perhaps a preparatory sketch for a larger painting—a fascinating step that attests to the artist’s freedom.
Moreover, on the back, a small study on the same subject shows different choices in color and composition. 
A former owner of this painting noted on the back that it is a work by Robert Dugas (1883–1965), a Lyon-based artist known for his very classical style, which still draws on 19th-century traditions. 
The pannel is signed on the right.
This study is perfectly constructed and demonstrates a mastery of composition.
In very good condition, it is framed in a gilded wood and velvet frame typical of 1960s taste.