Maurice Lévis - Village on a River’s Edge - Late 19th Century

Maurice Levis was an accomplished oil painter and watercolourist, who specialized in landscape and genre painting. His career spanned over 60 years overlapping the 19th and 20th centuries, and traces of various styles and influences are present in his work. He started his artistic training in the late 1870s at the Académie Julian under Jules Lefebvre, and continued his studies with Henri Harpignies and with Pierre Billet. Their strong Barbizon School, academic and naturalism influences became apparent in his style.

In 1888, he became a member of the Salon des Artistes Français in Paris, where he consistently exhibited throughout his long and prolific career. In 1895, he was given an Honourable Mention; and in 1896, he received a Third Place medal. In 1927 his work was finally awarded a Gold Medal. Most of his work depicts locations in France, mainly Normandy and Brittany, mainly rural scenes with villagers tending to chores and animals, or shoreline scenes. Levis died in 1940 at the age of 80. Throughout his successful career and up to this day, a great number of his works have sold privately or at auction, including reputable international auction houses such as Christie’s, Bonhams or Sotheby’s.

Artist: Maurice Lévis (1860-1940).
Signed on bottom right.
Medium: Oil on wood.
Condition: Excellent condition.
Dimensions: 26 x 38 cm. / 10 x 15 in.
Frame: 29.5 x 41.5 cm. / 11 ½ x 16 ½ in. Wood. Modern.
Origin: France.