Attributed to Julien Gustave Gagliardini (1846-1927)
An artist of the French school, Gagliardini painted history scenes, genre scenes, portraits, landscapes, seascapes, and marine scenes. While he worked primarily with oils, he was also a skilled engraver. He studied under the master Soulary in St. Etienne, and under the famed Leon Coginet in Paris.
Receiving much recognition for his artistic oeuvre, Gagliardini exhibited both portraits and genre scenes at the Paris Salon from 1869 to 1880. He also exhibited at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool. In 1883, he was awarded an honorable mention, followed by a third place medal in 1884, a second place medal in 1886, a silver medal in 1889, and finally a gold medal at the Exposition Universelle. Made an associated member of the Salon de Artistes Francais in 1883, Gagliardini was also inducted as a Knight in the Legion of Honor in 1893.
Initially known for his historical genre scenes, Gagliardini eventually devoted himself almost entirely to the art of landscape painting and specialized in the picturesque scenes of the Midi region of France. His use of a rather solid palette, combined with fresh colors and excellent eye for composition, has earned him a lasting reputation as an accomplished artist of the French 19th century School.
Museum Collections Include:
The Louvre, Paris; Musee des Beaux-Arts, Amiens; Musee des Beaux-Arts, Arras; Musee des Beaux-Arts, Cambrai; Musee des Beaux-Arts, Montpellier; Musee des Beaux-arts, Mulhouse; Musee des Beaux-Arts, Reims; Musee des Beaux-Arts, Rochefort; Musee des Beaux-Arts, Tourcoing; Musee des Beaux-Arts; Djion; Musee des Beaux-Arts, St. Etienne