Alfred Smith (1864-1936) "farm In Crozant 1935" Painting Exhibited In Bordeaux With A. Roll, Alluaud

New very beautiful and large oil/canvas by Alfred Smith representing a farm in Crozant in 1935, signed lower left + located and counter-signed in the painter's hand on the back "Farm corner in Crozant" + label with a exhibition in Latresne (near Bordeaux) with Alfred Roll, Jacques Duhamel collection. Provenance: Jacques Duhamel Collection Format of the painting alone without frame 60x73cm or 77x91cm frame included It is therefore a superb post-impressionist composition with a Fauvist tendency by Alfred Smith who paints here a corner of a farm in Crozant, we can see a farm building, a fence and an orchard with apple trees in fruit. The touch and the composition are typical of the Creuse period of the painter, who then uses a broad touch and a rather tawny palette, here soft greens, blues, yellow, vermilion red, mauves etc... Magnificent work from the time when Smith painted in Creuse, at the end of his life when the artist then had full possession of his art. At a certain period, only works from his Bordeaux and Parisian period found interest in the eyes of collectors, but in recent years the trend has been reversed because views of the Creuse are constantly increasing, as proof of the recent paintings sold in sale with prices over 7/8000€. Alfred Smith, born in Bordeaux on July 30, 1854 and died in Paris 16th on November 3, 1936, is a French post-impressionist painter. His work has sometimes been compared to that of Claude Monet. André Alfred Smith de Sternburg was born in Bordeaux on July 30, 1854. His father was Welsh, naturalized French, and his mother was the daughter of the notary of Saint-Ciers-sur-Gironde. In 1869, his father left the family home and left to seek his fortune in the United States. In 1877 he exhibited his paintings for the first time at the Salon de la société des amis des arts de Bordeaux, whose catalog indicates that his master was Hippolyte Pradelles. He remained faithful to this salon and exhibited at least one painting every year until his death in 1936. In 1880 Smith participated in the Paris Salon, obtaining honorable mention and frequented the workshop of Léonce Chabry. He also became a professor at the Bordeaux School of Fine Arts. In 1883, his painting Le Quai de Bacalan, le Soir was exhibited at the Paris Salon and he entered the studio of Amédée Baudit. In 1886, the painter Alfred Roll noticed him and helped him promote his artistic work. The two men became friends and Alfred Smith served as Roll's executor after his death in 1919. In the years 1884-1890 Smith began to be recognized. He received medals at the Versailles and Nice salons, from French artists, at the Universal Exhibition in Paris, etc. It was in 1886 that he was able to leave his job, his painting allowing him to live. In 1888, he won an award at the Paris Salon. The same year, he painted Place de la Concorde Sous La Pluie (L'Averse) and in 1889, he won a bronze medal at the Paris Salon. He won a bronze medal at the 1900 Universal Exhibition in Paris. In 1894, he was named knight of the Legion of Honor. On December 7, 1899, Alfred Smith married Catherine Philippine Poix in Lyon and in 1901 the couple moved to Paris. In 1912, thanks to his friends Paul Madeline and Eugène Alluaud, Alfred Smith discovered the Creuse valley. He is captivated by the landscapes; his style changed again and evolved towards Fauvism. He continued to paint the area around Crozant until his death, becoming one of the representatives of the Crozant school. After a visit to Venice he adopted a rather impressionist style and from 1912, he evolved towards Fauvism upon discovery of the Creuse valley and the art of Guillaumin. His wife Catherine died in September 1935, then Alfred Smith died in Paris on November 3, 1936. He is buried in Lyon with his partner. There are several works on Alfred Smith, including La Creuse, a valley-workshop. Artistic wanderings published by Les Ardents éditions where the painting that I am proposing is also cited and therefore dated 1935. This canvas is in perfect original condition, delivered in a gilded frame probably from the period. Guaranteed authentic work