Marie-François Firmin Girard, AT WORK IN THE FORGE

50,0 x 64,5cm - oil, canvas pasted on cardboard

Signed l.d.: FIRMIN-GIRÁRD.

Agra-Art auction sticker from 2010 on the back.



The painting depicts the interior of Jean Perrat's forge in the commune of Saint Denis de Cabanne, near Charlieu, where the painter's wife was from and which they often visited.



Compare with:

- P. Girard, Firmin-Girard par son petit-fils, Orleans 1988, cat. nos.: 178-181, 198, 199).



Marie-François Firmin Girard (Poncin /department of Ain in the Rhône-Alpes region/ 1838 - Montluçon /department of Allier in Auvergne/ 1921) - French academic painter, signing his works Firmin-Girard was one of the more famous and respected artists of his era. He began studying painting in 1854 at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, as a pupil of Charles Gleyere and Léon Gérôme. In 1859, he made his debut at the official Salon, showing the painting "Saint Sebastian." In 1861, he received a 3rd class medal and second prize in the Prix de Rome competition for "Death of Priam." From then on, he exhibited regularly; taking part in the annual Salons of the Société des Artistes François until 1881, and the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts from 1890 to 1914. At the 1863 Salon, his painting "After the Ball" was a huge success; the medal-winning canvas was purchased by Princess Mathilde Bonaparte. Since then, in addition to paintings with historical, religious or mythological themes ("Ulysses and Sirens"), the artist painted more and more contemporary scenes of bourgeois life, from the streets of Paris and small French towns ("On the Terrace," "Brides," "Reconvalescents," "Flower Seller"), and sometimes genre depictions in 18th century costumes. In addition, he painted paintings with oriental motifs, including Japanese subjects that were fashionable at the time ("Japanese Toilet") or harem scenes ("Odalisque"). He also created urban vedutas with staffage with equal ease ("Paris in Spring," "Wharf in Flowers"), landscapes and paintings depicting the realities of the lives of villagers and fishermen - poor farms, homesteads, backyards ("Le Moulin de Gatellier," "Le Fuerage des boeufs"). From 1875 he was often in Onival (now the Ault district) on the English Channel, he had a house there and where he painted a lot (landscapes, genre scenes). The artist's essentially realistic paintings also show Impressionist influences over time; Girard always paid great attention to the role of light in his works. His paintings shown at Salons and other exhibitions were still decorated with medals several times, including in 1874 the artist received a 2nd class medal, and in 1900 at the World Exhibition in Paris a bronze medal. Girard also participated in the Great Art Exhibitions in Berlin in 1895, 1896, 1900, 1901. In recognition of his contribution to French art, he was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honor in 1896. The artist's works are in the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, as well as museums in Bougres, Mayenne, Helfingfors, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Art Institute in Chicago, among others.