Pierre Mazaleyrat

About the Portrait

This charming portrait by French artist Pierre Mazaleyrat (1901-1961) captures a refined woman seated outdoors against a peaceful countryside backdrop. Painted in oil on cardboard around 1930, the work combines portraiture with a natural setting, reflecting the relaxed elegance of provincial France during the interwar years.

The sitter, dressed in a delicate pink blouse, is portrayed with simplicity and grace, while the fresh tones of the landscape add depth and atmosphere. Mazaleyrat's technique brings together intimate character study and open-air painting tradition, making this piece both personal and timeless. The composition demonstrates his ability to capture not only the likeness of his subject but also the gentle ambiance of French rural life during the 1930s.

Housed in an ornate late 19th-century gilded wooden frame with decorative leaf motifs, the painting is ready to display. The frame's elaborate design complements the portrait's refined character while providing historical context for the work's presentation.

About the Artist

Pierre-Paul Mazaleyrat (1901-1961) was a French painter born on June 20, 1901, in Grandsaigne, Corrèze, and passed away in Paris on October 26, 1961. He studied at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts in Bordeaux, where he developed his academic training and artistic vision. Early in his career, he exhibited at the Salon des Indépendants Les Amis de l'Art in Bordeaux, presenting works that highlighted his talent for portraiture and landscape painting.

Mazaleyrat's art is distinguished by its elegant balance between figure and setting. His portraits often feature refined sitters placed against natural or rural backgrounds, blending realism with the freshness of open-air painting. Through this approach, Mazaleyrat captured not only the likeness of his subjects but also the atmosphere of French provincial life during the early 20th century.

Active throughout the interwar period and beyond, Mazaleyrat produced works that reflect both the intimacy of personal portraiture and the broader traditions of French painting. His style combined sensitivity, clarity, and a timeless sense of harmony, qualities that continue to appeal to collectors of 20th-century French art.

Technical Details

Artist: Pierre Mazaleyrat (1901-1961)
Signed: Lower left corner
Date: c.1930
Medium: Oil on cardboard
Condition: Very good condition
Dimensions: 65.5 x 50.5 cm / 25¾ x 20 in
Frame: 86 x 71 cm / 34 x 28 in, late 19th-century gilded wood with leaf motifs, very good condition
Origin: France

An elegant example of French interwar portraiture by this École des Beaux-Arts trained artist.

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