Adolphe Appian (1818-1898) - Lyon School - Oil On Canvas - Landscape In Ain

Landscape with bridge and cow CERVEYRIEU in the Ain Oil on canvas signed lower right Well framed 36 x 60.5 cm Some cracks ********** Adolphe Appian studied under François Grobon and Augustin Thierriat at the École des Beaux-Arts in Lyon before making his debut at the Paris Salon in 1835. He then exhibited in Lyon in 1847 and in Paris in 1855, becoming a regular at both Salons, where he received a gold medal in Paris in 1868. His career was enriched by international distinctions, including an honorable mention at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1889, after having participated in the London Exhibition in 1862. In 1892, he was made a Knight of the Legion of Honor. Among his major works is Rives de l'Ain, a large decorative panel made for the staircase of the Rhône prefecture in Lyon. Initially a musician, Appian chose to devote himself fully to the visual arts in 1852, a decisive year marked by his meeting with Corot and Daubigny, who would profoundly influence his work. He also spent a lot of time in Fontainebleau, where he painted alongside artists from the Barbizon School. Appian excelled in the art of charcoal, adopting a predilection for backlit scenes and subtle plays of light and shadow. With the discovery of Mediterranean light, his palette lightened, his colors became fresher, and his technique evolved towards a more fluid touch, showing the influence of his friend Félix Ziem.