Painting Paris Jardin du Luxembourg Early 20th Impressionism

Charming oil on panel from the first half of the 20th century, representing an afternoon in the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris. Dimensions: 31 The Luxembourg garden, created in the 17th century for Queen Marie de Medici, became a favorite place for relaxation and walks for Parisians and tourists from the 19th century. This haven of peace, in the heart of Paris, inspired many painters in the 19th and 20th centuries, like Edgar Degas, Vincent Van Gogh and Henri Matisse, keen to depict modern life. Here, our artist, with an impressionist touch, has chosen to place his easel near the stone balustrade of the terrace which accommodates, on the east wing, one of the two marble lions sculpted by Jean-Baptiste Henraux (1775 -1843) and commissioned by the architect Baraguey in 1813. The lion, placed on a base 1.5 meters high, is positioned in such a way that it appears to contemplate the former royal palace, today the palace of luxembourg, which we can only guess here on the left, out of the frame. Along the balustrade, where an elegant woman is enjoying the last rays of summer, containers shelter oleanders, while in the background rise rows of chestnut and lime trees, all species which make still today the fame of this mythical garden.

Ref. : KQP92GXE