Emile Charlet
The Rose
1879

About the Item

'The Rose' Canvas Size: 38.5 x 28" (98 x 71cm) Outside Frame Size: 48.5 x 38 (123 x 97cm) Oil on canvas Emile CHARLET 1851 - 1890 Born 1851 in Belgium Painter of genre, portraits, landscapes, and still life pictures A pupil of Portaels, the first exhibition in 1874 in Belgium, later in Paris in 1877 and also the l’Exposition of Brussels in 1910 The life of Emile Charlet (1851-1910) can be pieced together through his contemporaries. His brother Frantz Charlet (1862-1928) was a friend of Theo van Rysselberghe (1862-1926), both were founding members of Les XX Group, the short-lived modernist circle, which broke away from the formality of the Belgian Royal Academy, and later typified a general rejection of academicism. It attracted an international following, including the poet Verlaine and the composers Debussy and Faure. Visiting artists included Whistler, Rodin, Monet and Gaugin to name a few. The group was also quick to recognise the talent of van Gogh and held a retrospective of his works shortly after his death in 1890. He was born in Brussels in 1851 to a wealthy family. It isn’t known at what point he entered the Royal Academy there, though he learnt enough of its conventions so that he might later reject them. He also came under the influence of the orientalist Jean Francois Portaels (1818-1895), who was once a pupil of Paul Delaroche (1797-1856). In Delaroche’s studio, Portaels likely met the young Jean-Léon Gérôme (1824-1904) and it is telling that he frequently instructed his students (Charlet’s younger brother included) to study with Gérôme in Paris.He likely did the same with Emile, who was living in Paris by 1879. His brother and van Rysselberghe joined him there in 1881, shortly before their tour of Spain and North Africa. It is possible that Emile travelled with them. He frequently accompanied his brother on painting trips, including one to Nunspeet and Volendam in 1885, where they were joined by James Abbot Mcneill Whistler (1834-1903). His picture of market women in the Zuiderzee Museum was painted at this time and in the pointillist style of artists such as Georges Seurat, Paul Signac, van Rysselberghe and Les XX Group. Works have been auctioned both in Belgium and the USA

Creator:

Emile Charlet (1851 - 1910, Belgian)

Creation Year:

1879

Dimensions:

Height: 48.5 in (123.19 cm)Width: 38 in (96.52 cm)Depth: 3 in (7.62 cm)

Medium:

Oil

Movement & Style:

Impressionist

Period:

1870-1879