Charles Jung, Still Life with Oranges (1896)

CHARLES JUNG (Lyon, 1865-1936) Still Life with Oranges. 1896. Oil on canvas. 60 X 73 cm (frame: 87.5 X 72.5 X 7 cm) Signed and dated lower left: C. Jung 96. Charles Jung was one of the leading still life painters in Lyon in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. His work, acclaimed by critics and prized by major collectors, made extensive use of impasto (tissue) and touches of bright colors, which initially struggled to convince more conservative critics. However, by the end of his career, he was president of the Lyon Painters' Association. Although somewhat forgotten today, Jung was a major artist at a time when Lyon still life painting was recognized worldwide. The quality of his work is remarkable: the orange peel, the paper wrappings, and the reflections on the glass pitcher are exceptionally well-painted. It should be noted that an old repair is visible on the back of the work. Despite a slight loss of tension on the canvas, the painting surface is in excellent condition, and the impasto is so pronounced that I would be reluctant to consider relining it.