Léon Germain PELOUSE [1838-1891], Little Bridge

Léon Germain PELOUSE [1838-1891].

Small bridge

technique: oil on canvas

dimensions: 33x 46cm/45x59 cm

signature p.d. "Ch.Pelouse"

Léon Germain Pelouse [1838-1891] was born October 1, 1838 in Pierrelaye (Seine-et-Oise) died July 31, 1891 in Paris. He was a French landscape painter, self-taught, who never imagined that he would become a respected painter. Before embarking on his artistic career, he worked as a door-to-door salesman. Thanks to this occupation, Pelouse had the opportunity to learn about various French landscapes and villages. He continued this work for a long time. He also encountered service in the army. During these military apprenticeships, Pelouse committed his first paintings. When he turned twenty, he decided to devote himself to an artistic career. However, instead of going directly to study at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, as other future artists did, Pelouse decided not to study or have a teacher, just to be a master himself! Eugéne Montrosier in "Les Artistes Modernes: Peintres de Genvre (Paris: Libraire Ch. Tallandier, p. 101) wrote of Pelouse as follows:

... "Someone could write about Mr. Pelouse that he did not have a master and that it was only determination that made this one reach one of the highest positions among modern landscape painters. However, to suggest that Pelouse did not have a teacher is not quite right. Pelouse possessed a master, the one true one. That master turned out to be: Nature!"...

For Pelouse, nature was probably the force most influencing the direction of his work, and the only thing he regretted was not the lack of a teacher, but the contact - during his early career - with other painters and their works. He himself spoke of it this way:

..." The worst thing for me.... is that at the time I started, without working in any atelier, I didn't meet any painters." .. (Montrosier, p. 102)

In 1870, Pelouse moved to the village of Vaux-de-Cernay (...).

Pelouse made his debut at the Salon in 1865 with his painting Surroundings of Precy-Oise (Memories/Memories of Autumn). Two more appearances followed in 1868 and 1869. This time Pelouse presented works inspired by views of Brittany, particularly the town of Pont-Aven, where he worked, collected ideas and became fascinated by the sea. In 1873, Pelouse won a second-class medal for his painting The Valley of Cerney. Three years later, he received a first-class medal for Fragment of a Forest in Senlisse-Seine-et-Oise, while at the 1878 World Exposition, he received a second-class medal. That same year, he was awarded the title of Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. At the 1889 World Exposition, Pelouse was awarded a gold medal. The artist's last appearance at the Salon took place a year later. At that time he exhibited five works: Shores of the Seine, Tribouillard's Island , Seine, In Poses, View from the Dam.

By the end of his artistic career, Pelouse was so appreciated by the Salon that he was admitted to the jury as many as seven times in a row. This was a time when the Impressionists were beginning to experiment with their own style of landscape painting. Pelouse never counted himself among their ranks, nor did he identify with their artistic approach. His sensibility was closer to the old Barbizon School.

Following nature like a guide, Pelouse created his own painting style.

He developed a dark color palette and constantly observed the actions and activities of artists of his time, who were just then beginning to paint outdoors.

All his works show his total commitment and focus on landscape painting, depicting the regions of France, mainly Normandy and Brittany.