Beautifully serene, this 19th century oil painting on canvas by Léon Philippet (1843-1906) depicts the Domaine du Rond Chêne at Esneux in 1875. A gently winding country road draws the eye through the foreground and toward the stately architecture rising beyond the meadow, partially sheltered by a dense canopy of mature trees. Philippet balances the darker woodland with an expansive luminous sky, using soft blues, silvery grays, warm creams, ochres and natural greens to give the landscape remarkable depth and atmosphere. Expressive brushwork animates the grasses, foliage and clouds, while the strong perspective of the curving road leads naturally toward the distant estate. The peaceful composition and beautifully restrained palette give this antique landscape painting an especially appealing presence.
Léon Philippet was an accomplished 19th century artist whose distinguished training and international career add considerable importance to the work. He studied at the Académie des Beaux-Arts de Liège before receiving a scholarship that took him to Paris, where he continued his studies in the atelier of celebrated French academic painter William-Adolphe Bouguereau. A subsequent scholarship from the Fondation Lambert Darchis brought him to Rome, beginning an important period of nearly two decades in Italy. Philippet became particularly admired for his increasingly free and expressive treatment of light, color and atmosphere, qualities that are beautifully evident in this 1875 landscape. The original plaque identifies the scene as “Esneux, Domaine du Rond Chêne 1875,” preserving both the location and date of the painting.
The framed oil painting is presented in a handsome silvered molded frame that complements its subtle coloration and 19th century character.
Circa 1875
Measures 25H x 27W x 2D
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Available with Inessa Stewarts Antiques at our Dallas Design District showroom in Dallas Texas