Oil On Panel, Léon Richet (1847-1907)

Clearing with character. Landscape signed Léon Richet lower left. Léon Richet born in Solesmes followed the courses of Ambroise Detrez in Valenciennes then of Jules Lefebvre in Paris and of Diaz de la Pena of which he became the disciple to the point of sometimes signing works jointly with him. His landscapes appear at the Paris Salon from 1869, which earned him awards in particular in 1885, 1888 and 1901. The official portal of the Museums of Reims evokes about one of his works presented in Reims at the exhibition of 1873 the following words of the rapporteurs of the exhibition: "From Mr. Richet, landscapes and a view of Picardy, which are very firm in color and very fine in touch. Mr. Richet seems to come from both Rousseau and Daubigny [....] Like Rousseau, Richet places dark elements in the foreground that frame the main subject. He likes to play subtly with light and shadow." or even the critic Clarétie: "M.Richet is a pupil of Diaz, it seems, but one would take him much more for a pupil of Dupré. He has the impastos, the warm tones, the superb tormented" These remarks testify to the singular place of Léon Richet within the Barbizon school. The Musées d'Orsay and Reims have works by Léon Richet. We should also mention the very beautiful period stuccoed frame.