This 19th-century oil painting by French artist Eugène Devé (1826-1887) depicts a deer in a forest. It’s a picturesque scene and possibly deep within the forest of Fontainebleau.

Impressive birch trees line both sides of a track and tower over us in contortions of silvery brown. A lone deer stands motionless, directly ahead. With naturalistic precision, Devé has rendered the view sublimely.

During the 19th century, the Forest of Fontainebleau, near Paris, spanned over 42,000 acres and housed a wide range of flora and fauna. It had everything a landscape painter longed for and became a source of inspiration for a new movement in art. Painters, such as Théodore Rousseau (1812-1867), were attracted to its dense woodland, rugged gorges, and dusty clearings. Excited to capture exactly what they saw and often working in all conditions. It was during this time that the great landscape painter Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot (1796-1875) began to explore Fontainebleau. It was the perfect storm - the scenery, weather and atmosphere created the ideal environment to flourish.

Corot, in turn, trained a new generation of artists who also ventured into the forest for inspiration. Eugène Devé was among them and achieved notable success in his own right by exhibiting at the illustrious Paris Salon in 1861. Several of his works are held in public collections including at the museums of Rouen and Amiens.

Signed lower right and held within a French 18th-century giltwood and gesso frame with acorn foliage.

Learn more about Eugène Deve in our directory.

Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 36½” x 32” / 93cm x 81cm
Year of creation: c. 1870
Condition: Artwork presents well. Canvas strip lined. Old restorations. Frame with some light wear.
Artist’s auction maximum: £3’610