François Simon (1818-1896) Herd In The Creeks Between Marseille And Cassis

The great romantic and bucolic era of the 19th century for this original work by Marseille animal painter François Simon. The work is offered in an elegant 19th century gilded frame which measures 65 cm by 80 cm and 50 cm by 65 cm for the canvas alone. It represents a shepherd, his dog, and his herd on the heights of the famous creeks between Marseille and Cassis, where the steep rocks magnify the landscape, giving a great romantic atmosphere to this work. In good condition, on the back, only three small invisible old restorations. The Chassis was made by the artist himself, the work is unsigned but guaranteed. Modest and sincere artist, who, after having been a pupil of Aubert at the free school of drawing in Marseille, asked Loubon to perfect him in the art he practiced at the same time as his job as a hairdresser. Painting is my only happiness, he wrote naively in his plea. Simon was 35 when at a salon exhibition in Lyon his talent was appreciated by a wealthy amateur who helped and encouraged him until the end of his life. The animals he depicted, sheep, goats, donkeys, are small portraits painted with real tenderness. But he did not acquire a taste for movement and action from Loubon. His interiors of stables by the diffusion of a skilfully studied lighting will restore his best Paintings. The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Marseille, in the Palais Longchamps, preserves of him: two goats in the stable, on their way to the slaughterhouse (1859), Sheep in the pastures (1864), Rams and ewes in the valley of the Fours à Chaux (1878), as well as charcoal portraits.