Eugene Ciceri (born January 27, 1813 – died in 1890) was a French master of realistic landscape, lithographer, theater designer of the 19th century, who was a member of the Barbizon school of painting. The work of Eugene Cicéry is imbued with respect for the origins of folk culture, for the everyday motives of his native land. His paintings reflect a world in which not man dominates nature, but nature over man.
Biography of Eugene Cicery
Eugene Cicéry was born in Paris on January 27, 1813 into a family of hereditary artists. His father was engaged in the design of theatrical performances, and his grandfather painted portraits. The boy grew up in the art world from childhood. His first art teachers were his father and uncle, French seascape painter Louis Gabriel Eugene Isabey (Eugene Louis-Gabriel Isabey).
Eugene Cicéry began his career as a designer of murals, theater and stage sets. Later he was influenced by the creative influence of the Barbizon artists, who glorified the aesthetic value of the national landscape.
In 1849, the artist moved permanently to Bourron-Marlotte, painting the picturesque countryside along the Seine and Marne. Eugene Cicéry, working from nature on sketch compositions, used the technique of tonal painting, saturated with subtle light and color accents. This made it possible to truthfully convey the state of nature.
At the exhibition of works by realist artists and representatives of the Barbizon school at the Paris Salon in 1851, the works of Eugene Cicéry were highly appreciated. This identified him as an accomplished landscape painter. Along with landscape painting, the artist paid great attention to watercolors, book graphics, lithography and, like his father, stage design of productions.
Eugene Cicéry’s sketches for the stage space were distinguished by their originality.
Strange constructions appeared on the stage, meticulously detailed, but discreet, restrained in color. This forced the audience to reflect, paying attention not to the actual side of the theatrical action taking place, but to what was meant by it.
The artist traveled and painted in Normandy, Switzerland, Germany and North Africa, visited the Alps and Pyrenees. Participated in the release of a large selection of illustrations for the albums of Baron Isidore Taylor (Isidore Justin Severin Taylor) and the collection of the writer Charles Nodier (Jean Charles Emmanuel Nodier) “Picturesque and romantic travels in Old France.”
In his work, the master remained faithful to the theme of his small homeland until the last days of his life. His later works are mainly lithographs depicting the countryside. The artist died in 1890 at Burron-Marlotte. Eugene Cicéry’s works are in the Louvre, the National Museums of French cities, the National Gallery in Berlin and the Getty Museum in Los Angeles.
The most famous paintings by Eugene Cicéry
Eugene Cicéry’s paintings demonstrate the diverse states of nature, light and air. His landscapes teach the public to perceive and appreciate vivid impressions of the surrounding world. Here are some of the artist’s best works:
- The Courtyard of the Norman Farm (1851) is a work presented by the author to the Russian artist Alexei Petrovich Bogolyubov. The painting realistically reflects the life of people in the courtyard of a Norman farm.
- The Moulin de la Galette at Montmartre (1856) is a countryside landscape with a wooden mill on a hill and small figures of people. When they work together, the bread necessary for life is born.
- Au bord du Loing (1866) is a painting painted by the author in his favorite style. The quiet fate of a lonely fisherman against the backdrop of the greatness of nature, its mystery and unsolvedness.
- “Les Lavandieres Washerwomen” (1870-1880) – the work reflects the everyday work of women, which the artist equated with a noble work done with special diligence and love.
