François-Adolphe Grison

The painter at his easel on a mountain path

Painter born in Bordeaux on 17.6.1845 and died in Chêne -Bougeries, near Geneva on 10.4.1914. Son of Jean Grison, painter, and Catherine Berthomié. We can consider him as an Alsatian, because he did his military service in Strasbourg (before 1868), lived in Strasbourg (1871 to 1880), married an Alsatian woman during his stay in Strasbourg, and above all because, after 1870, he contributed to revive Alsatian painting bruised by the departure of many artists after 1870. A former pupil of his father, then of Lequien, he also worked in Champigny-sur-Marne (1880-1895) and in the Geneva region (1895-1914). He exhibited at the Salon of French Artists from 1873 to 1910, obtaining, among other things, a third class medal (1890). In Alsace, he participated in the exhibitions of the Society of Friends of the Arts of Strasbourg (1874 to 1904), as well as that of the Society of Arts of Mulhouse (1876-1908). We still see it in Munich and Geneva. A specialist in oil colour, he excelled in genre painting, mainly from the 16th to the 18th centuries. His craftsmanship is reminiscent of that of Meissonnier. His work demonstrates a great finesse of observation, an undeniable delicacy of touch and a great finish in the execution. His most famous work is at the Crocodile restaurant in Strasbourg. Very large in size, it depicts a fairground near Place Sainte-Madeleine in Strasbourg. His paintings are kept in the museums of Strasbourg, Mulhouse and New York (Metropolitan Museum).