Joseph Castanié (1819-1884) The Music Lesson Of The Choirmaster Rodez Espalion Aveyron

Joseph Pierre Hilarion CASTANIÉ
(Espalion 1819 – Rodez 1884)
The music lesson of the choirmaster
Oil on canvas
H. 155 cm; L. 125 cm
Signed lower left and dated 1850

Exhibition: 1850, Salon des Artistes Français, n°486 (number still present on the canvas)

Purely Aveyron painter, Joseph Castanié evolved mainly in his department where he produced numerous portraits and religious paintings .

The small town of Senergues has a very beautiful painting representing Saint Roch, which has recently been restored. It is located in the nave of the Montarnal chapel. The National Center for Plastic Arts has two religious works by him, on deposit in two different French communes. The Denys-Puech museum in Rodez seems to have five works by the painter. Four portraits and a very charming full-length portrait of a pifferaro, made during Castanié's trip to Rome in 1855. The museum also holds a study of horses in the stable, most certainly made after the work of Delacroix or Géricault . The village of Estaing has the portrait of Saint Fleuret in its parish church.

Our large-format canvas was presented at the Salon des Artistes Français in 1850. Its title hides nothing of the subject but we can certainly imagine that this music lesson took place during a catechism lesson. In the foreground on the right, a young boy sits at the table, looking at the viewer, with a small thick book in his hand: most certainly a Bible. The still life on the left is interesting in its details. The cello placed against a Louis XIII armchair, and a few books scattered on the floor.

Uncleaned painting, under a shiny, old yellow varnish. Without frame. Catering possible.