Print - Galerie Ary Jan

Gustave Le Sénéchal de Kerdréoret (1840-1920)
On the Promenade, Le Tréport
Oil on canvas signed and dated 1882 lower left
16.14 x 23.62 inch
Born in Hennebont (Morbihan) where his grand father was the mayor, Gustave le Sénéchal de Kerdréoret was
studying in Paris at the Henri IV college where he had drawing lessons with Jules Noël from 1847. He chose to be a
sailor and made many missions before being injured during the exploration of Mexico in 1862. He was a
long-distance captain for the Transatlantic Company, and realised during his trips numerous sketches, drawings
and notes that he was transposing in his paintings firmly built.
He started to exhibit at the Paris Salon of French Artists in 1869, where he gained numerous rewards, of whom an
honourable medal in 1881, a third class medal in 1883 and a second class one in 1888. During the 1889's and
1900's Universal Exhibitions he was rewarded again and gained the title of knight of the Legion of Honour in 1900.
Keen to improve his technique, he took painting lessons with Pierre-Auguste Cot from 1871 and get very close
friend with Antoine Vollon in the 1880's. This one gave him many advises and frequently welcomed him to his
house in Mers-les Bains.
In 1890, Le Sénéchal was designated as painter of the Marine, after the death of Lepic and the resignation of
Longueville. This title is still given by the Defense Minister to artists fully devoted to depict sea, seascape and
sailors.
Le Sénéchal used to paint Breton and Norman coasts, such as fishing harbors and small boats grounded on the
shingle beach. The artist exceled in these subjects, and particularly in the sky, quite always in contrast with
buildings deliberately left sketched. His palette with brilliant colours was subtly enhanced with glazing and his
compositions were well-established.
One can see here the passion of the painter for marine atmosphere. On a sunny square, some walkers are on the
promenade. The characters kind of colors dirty marks are bringing the area to life. Among them, two young
women with beautiful hats are drawing attention. In this composition, the painter played with the horizontality of
the sea, then he draw out the promenade in the centre before bringing up to verticality by the architecture.
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Bibliography
Catalogue illustré du Salon de 1901, exposition Au Grand Palais, 1er Mai 1901
Exposition des Beaux-Arts, Salon de 1890, catalogue illustré : peinture et sculpture, Paris, libraire d'art, Ludovic
Baschet
Gérald Schurr, Les Petits Maitres de la peinture 1820-1920, valeur de demain, Les Editions de l'Amateur, Tome IV,
Paris, 1979
Galerie Ary Jan
38 rue de Penthièvre | 75008 Paris
Tel : +33 (0)1 42 61 42 10 | Mobile : +33 (0)6 07 88 75 84
[email protected] | www.galeriearyjan.com