Theodore Richard (1782-1859) - Paysage animé avec Grand Arbre et rivière (Vendu sans prix de reserve)

We present this oil painting on panel depicting a pastoral landscape with a rider by Theodore Richard (1782–1859)

The work portrays a bucolic scene brought to life by a figure riding a donkey along a path at the edge of a forest, amid majestic trees illuminated by the light of dawn or dusk.

Title of the work: Pastoral Landscape at the Edge of the Woods with a Rider

Medium: Oil on panel

Monogrammed TR at bottom right and dated (probably 1826)

Country: France

Alexandre Louis Marie Théodore Richard, born in Millau in 1782 and died in Toulouse in 1859, was a major 19th-century French landscape painter. Trained as a surveyor, he initially worked as chief engineer of the cadastre in several departments before choosing an entirely different path. In 1823, he definitively left public service to devote himself fully to his true passion: painting. He refined his art by studying under renowned masters, notably Jean-Marie-Joseph Ingres and Jean-Victor Bertin. From 1827 until his death, he became a regular exhibitor at the prestigious Paris Salon. His extensive body of work includes more than 350 paintings recorded across Europe. A recognized specialist in Pyrenean landscapes, his technique is distinguished by an approach that is both classical and naturalistic. He excelled particularly in his handling of light and depth, as well as in pastoral scenes. Settling in Toulouse in 1833, he left a lasting mark on the local art scene with his masterful works. In his personal life, he is also known as the adoptive father of the painter Jacques Raymond Brascassat.