Numa-François Gillet (1868-1940) - Symbolist Painting of Ladies by a Fountain

Artist: Numa Francois Gillet (1868-1940)

Title: Ladies by a Fountain

Medium: Oil on canvas

Date: Circa 1920-1930

Provenance : signed top right: From a private London collection

Overall measurements with the frame are 82 cm x 64 cm x 7 cm and the painting measuring 72 cm x 53 cm

Biography:

Numa François Gillet was a French painter associated with the Symbolist movement. He was a student at the École des Beaux-arts de Paris where he trained with William-Adolphe Bouguereau. Gillet was influenced by the British Pre Raphaelite movement as well as the French Symbolist painter Armand Point with whom he was close friends. He was a member of the Salon des Artistes Français where he exhibited hors concours and was made a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur. Gillet's work is highly sought after but rarely comes to market. Works by the artist are known to be of significant interest to collectors of Symbolist art.

Description:

The present painting is a fine example of the artist's work. It shows two women in classical dress in the background while in the foreground another figure, most likely a nymph, plays a flute while sitting on the edge of the fountain. The ethereal character of the work attests to Gillet's talent for creating atmospheric and beautifully poetic works of art.

Label on reverse reads: "GILLET (Numa-François), peintre, né à Bordeaux (Gironde) en 1868 (Ec. Fr.).
Hors-concours des Artistes Français, chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur. Ses toiles ont un caractère lyrique, fantastique, traitant des sujets littéraires. PRIX. PARIS. Vte X..., 28 janvier 1924: Fête antique: 190 fr."

English: "GILLET (Numa-François), painter, born in Bordeaux (Gironde) in 1868 (Ec. Fr.). Out of competition for French Artists, knight of the Legion of Honor. His paintings have a lyrical, fantastic character, dealing with literary subjects. PRICE. PARIS. Vte X..., January 28, 1924: Ancient festival: 190 fr."

There is an extensive auction history for Numa François Gillet. The auction record for Numa François Gillet currently stands at €6000 euros achieved in 2025 at Artcurial Paris for a painting from the collection of renowned collector of Symbolist art Gérard Lévy. We feel that this is a fair indication of the artists current status in terms of collectability.

Numa François Gillet
Lot 55: Numa François GILLET
Est: €1,500 EUR - €2,000 EUR
Sold: €6,000 EUR
Artcurial
Paris, France
February 11, 2025

Numa François Gillet
Lot 53: Numa-François GILLET
Est: €2,000 EUR - €3,000 EUR
Sold: €3,500 EUR
Artcurial
Paris, France
February 11, 2025

Gillet's work is held in numerous collections including Sheffield Museums, the Castle-Museum of Nemours, and the Autun museum

Condition report: In predominantly original condition the painting has been professionally cleaned recently and has some older and more recent repairs to the verso which are inconspicuous without very close inspection under magnification from the front . The painting is in very good tension and has excellent tonality. There are no protrusions from the repairs and in our opinion the painting is in ready to hang condition. There are some areas of feint craquelure commensurate with its antiquity and the few areas of retouching are very well blended.