Jean-Francois RAFFAELLI (Paris 1850 - Paris 1924) - Lot 374

Jean-Francois RAFFAELLI (Paris 1850 - Paris 1924) The singing lesson, circa 1889 GOUACHE AND PAINT Signed lower left Lacunar and circular stamp on back of frame: SOCIETE DES ARTISTES FRANCAIS SALON 1889 Sight 75 x 69 cm Exhibition l Certainly the work exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Français at the Palais des Champs-Elysées in 1889 under the title La leçon de chant and described under no. 3740. At the same Salon, in the paintings category, Jean François Raffaëlli exhibited "Les deux sœurs, Judith et Gabrielle" (The Two Sisters, Judith and Gabrielle) under no. 2230, which is now in the Musée d'Orsay and depicts the painter's two daughters. History l Jean François Raffaëlli earned his living as a singer and studied with Jean-Léon Gérôme at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. In the mid-1870s, he moved to the Paris suburb of Asnières and turned to popular and naturalistic subjects. Edgar Degas supported Raffaëlli to take part in the Impressionist exhibitions of 1880 and 1881. That same year, 1889, when he exhibited La leçon de chant at the Salon des Artistes Français at the Palais des Champs-Elysées, he won a gold medal at the Universal Exhibition. A remarkable engraver, in 1904 he founded the Société de la gravure originale en couleurs, and in his search for new means of artistic expression, he perfected an oil pastel technique. His works are often composed of various media, which Raffaëlli enjoys combining. The virtuoso composition of this painting is exemplary of Impressionism. The realism of the subject is reinforced by the discretion of the decor. The colors are natural and delicate, underlined by the contrast between the violinist's black jacket and the black dress of the girl on the right. The musician's dynamic attitude contrasts with the static, even bored posture of the two young singers. Expert l CABINET Michel MAKET Painting sold by appointment only at the Expert's office at 17 avenue de Messine Paris 75008 Tel. 01 42 25 89 33 - info@maket-expert.com