Alphonse Cellier (1875-1936) Evening Near Saint Nectaire In Auvergne. Murols School, Charreton

Very pretty and quite rare oil on canvas by Alphonse Cellier representing an evening in a small hamlet in Auvergne, according to the former owner it would be the small village of Saillant near Saint Nectaire, signed lower right in red. Size of the painting alone without frame 38x46cm. This is therefore a very beautiful post-impressionist composition by Alphonse Cellier, he paints here an early evening where we see a man sitting in a small Auvergne hamlet, which would therefore be the village of Saillant near Saint-Nectaire; a typical village of Auvergne with its thatched and slate roofs. Cellier applies here to the letter the lessons of the master Victor Charreton, thanks to a subtle palette in tones of purple, brown, blue, dark green enhanced with a few warmer touches. The mastery is perfect, especially when you know how difficult it is to paint night scenes without them being too dark, a work worthy of François Cachoud, the undisputed master of night landscapes. Alphonse Cellier is part of the small circle of the best painters of the Murols school, referenced in all the books dealing with this school and present in museums such as those of Murols, Clermont-Ferrand etc... Born in 1875 in Gardanne in the Bouches du Rhone and died in 1936 in Saint Nectaire, the same year as Victor Charreton. He exhibited from 1899 at the age of 13 at the Salon des Artistes Français, obtained a medal of honor in 1927 and a silver medal in 1931. He spent his winters in Neuilly and came to paint in the summer as well as to practice the profession of physiotherapist in Saint-Nectaire where he resided in the villa of the Casino. His wife is also a painter. A bust representing him, the work of the sculptor Cacheux, is erected in Saint-Nectaire. He painted most of his works in Auvergne, hence the sale of part of his studio in Clermont-Ferrand in the 1970s. His works are now quite sought after by fans of the Murols school because they are rather rare on the market. This canvas is in very good original condition, delivered in a pretty 19th century gilded frame. Work guaranteed authentic.