André Perrachon (lyon, 1828 - Id., 1908) - Vase Of Roses

This still life features a sumptuous bouquet of roses in shades arranged in a transparent glass vase. The flowers, freshly picked, unfold in a natural disorder, surrounded by green leaves and punctuated by small red berries. A few petals fallen to the ground suggest the ephemeral fragility of nature.
The vase, subtly painted with plays of transparency and reflections, rests on a golden surface where touches of blue evoke other floral elements stand out. The dark, almost brown-black background contrasts with the luminosity of the roses, reinforcing their presence and enhancing their brilliance.
This work brilliantly illustrates André Perrachon's talent in the art of floral still life, a pictorial genre that has been prized since the seventeenth century. The artist adopts here a masterful chiaroscuro, inspired by the Flemish masters, where light seems to burst forth to illuminate the delicate petals and reflections of the vase.
André Perrachon is part of the tradition of nineteenth-century painters from Lyon, a talented school that distinguished itself by a realistic and refined approach to natural subjects.
Born in Lyon, André Perrachon trained as a painter at the École des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, before continuing his apprenticeship in Paris in 1847, with François Lepage and Pierre-Adrien Chabal-Dessurgey, director of the flower painting workshop at the Manufacture Nationale des Gobelins.
Specialising in the representation of flowers, especially roses, Perrachon is distinguished by its remarkable ability to reproduce the naturalness and delicacy of plants with unparalleled precision. His floral still lifes, imbued with great sensitivity, helped to establish his reputation.
From 1850 onwards, he exhibited regularly at the Paris Salon, where his work was recognized by two honourable mentions: one in 1859, the other in 1863. Recognized for his talent, he became an important figure on the Lyon art scene and was elected president of the Société Lyonnaise des Beaux-Arts when it was created in 1887.
In parallel with his work, André Perrachon passed on his knowledge to several students, including Claudia Bret-Charbonnier, Thérèse Guérin, Marie Girard-Nauwelaers, Marie Hodieux-Belous and Mathilde Mitton. He also taught painting to his grandson, Joseph Perrachon (1883-1969), thus ensuring the continuity of his artistic legacy.