Félix Cal (1810-1880) - A la découverte d'un pré-impressionniste de l'école d'Honfleur

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I am offering a piece signed CALS by Félix CALS (1810-1880), one of the early pioneers of the Impressionist movement in France. This work, created between 1859 and 1873 in ORROUY in OISE, is in very good condition for its age and remains a fine testament to this artistic movement that revolutionized the Romantic period of the 19th-century art world.

This oil on canvas signed at the bottom left, depicting its church and presbytery, represents the village of ORROUY in the south of COMPIEGNE, where the artist Félix CALS lived for 14 years. This small village, lost in the nature of the Picard countryside, is closely linked to his life and work. It is the story of a meeting between Count Armand DORIA, a great art collector and true patron who became the owner of ORROUY Castle in 1856, and several painter friends with whom he formed friendships. From 1859 onwards, CALS settled at the castle, marking a major transformation in his artistic style. He painted notable works during this period, including 'La rue Montaville à ORROUY' (1866), 'Le vieux noyer', and 'Entrée des Elluats à ORROUY', whose provenance is confirmed by private collections and public sales.

Félix CALS's works are preserved in several museums, notably the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, as well as the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Dijon, the Eugène Boudin Museum in Honfleur, the Thomas Henry Museum in Cherbourg, and the one in Caen. He is considered a precursor of the Impressionists by Camille Pissarro and is also associated in art history with artists such as Jean-François Millet, Jean-Baptiste Corot, and Johan Barthold Jongkind. In 1874, Félix CALS participated in the first exhibition of Impressionist painters with, among other works, the painting titled 'Impression, Sunrise' by Claude Monet. As the dean of this new generation of painters, he took part in subsequent Impressionist exhibitions in 1876, 1877, and finally, a tribute exhibition in 1881. He is linked to the Honfleur School, where he settled permanently in 1873, and he mingled with the painters of the Saint-Siméon farm.

Frame dimensions: 50 cm x 40 cm.
Dimensions of the artwork: 40 cm x 30 cm.
The last postcard photo depicts the church of ORROUY and its presbytery around 1900 (photo No. 9). The representation of this painting appears to be very faithful.

This oil on canvas does not appear to have been restored for a century and a half; it has been cleaned, and a satin anti-UV varnish has been applied by a professional. Tensions have been added to the four sides of the canvas (photo no. 7) to tighten it. The back of the canvas is the reverse side of the painted work. The frame, which may be the original, has been cleaned, varnished, and consolidated. A wooden frame from the 19th century has also been restored, featuring a subtle leafy border that enhances the painting. A clear, special fine arts wax has been applied to this dark walnut-toned frame.

The photos were taken in high resolution (64 MB) in natural light and without any retouching, except for the last photo on paneling with indoor lighting. The quality of the displayed image will depend on each person's screen and the lighting in the room where the artwork will subsequently be displayed.

The set is ready to be hung.