This early 20th-century oil painting by French artist Joseph-Paul Mesle (1855-1929) depicts a charming white cottage in Brittany.
Mesle adored this time of day, painting numerous scenes under the final embers of sunlight. Long shadows, silhouetted trees, and buildings presented with chiaroscuro. His loose brushwork compliments the weary haze of dusk and the gentle glow of a welcoming fire. One can imagine him pitching an easel in the square over several nights, working fast to capture this evocative view.
On the reverse, various labels allude to the painting’s history. One from ‘Robinot Frères’, a storage and transport company that handled numerous works by the impressionists, such as Renoir. Another from an exhibition at the Musée National des Douanes in Bordeaux.
Signed lower left and held within a gilt frame.
Medium: Oil on panel
Overall size: 15” x 11” / 38cm x 28cm
Year of creation: c. 1920
Labels & Inscriptions: Robinot Frères storage label number 3382B / Exhibition label from the Musée National des Douanes / Recent label possibly inscribed with the name of the previous owner / Inscribed title on reverse (Place Bretonne).
Provenance: Robinot Frères / Private collection, Belgium
Condition: Artwork presents well. Frame with some light wear.
Artist’s auction maximum: £3,000
Joseph Paul Meslé was an accomplished French painter of landscapes and figures. He trained at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and his works are held in numerous public collections.
Learn more about Joseph-Paul Mesle in our directory.
We care profoundly about our role as custodians and every piece in the collection has been assessed by our conservator. When required, we undertake professional restoration carefully using reversible techniques and adopt a light touch to retain the aged charm of each work. We also often restore frames rather than replace them as many are original and selected by the artists themselves.
