Charming representation of an alley in Sisteron, a beautiful medieval town in the French region of Haute-Provence. More precisely, it is the intersection of rue Longue Andronne and rue Font-Chaude. Oil on cardboard, with the artist’s signature and location in the lower right corner. An annotation is on the back reads (in French): "Painting given by Madame Broche to Marianih (?) - This painter was a friend of the Broche family".
Lucien Paul Marius Roustan was a French impressionist painter. He was born in Toulon on July 3, 1886, son of the prestigious architect François Roustan. He studied in Paris, at the Académie Julian, being a pupil of William Bouguereau and Gabriel Ferrier. He was also a disciple of respected artist Fernand Cormon in his famous studio on Boulevard de Clichy.
Portraitist and landscaper, Lucien Rousten exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Français from 1910 to 1914, becoming a card-carrying member in January of 1914. Some of his works are in the Museum of Old Toulon.
Recruited as a soldier in the First World War, he was fatally wounded and died in Bar-le-Duc, Meuse (northeastern France) on September 17, 1914, just a few months after the beginning of the conflict. He is buried at the Central cemetery in Toulon (French Riviera).
Sources: Benezit, Dictionary of Artists; Dictionnaire des Peintres et Sculpteurs de Provence-Alpes-Côte-D'Azur; Archives de France.
Artist: Lucien Roustan (1886-1914).
Signed in lower right corner.
Medium: Oil on cardboard.
Condition: Very good condition.
Dimensions: 27 x 22 cm. / 10 ½ x 8 ½ in.
Frame: 32.5 x 27.5 cm. / 14 ¾ x 10 ¾ in. Gilt wood. Very good condition.
Origin: France.
