Certificate of Authenticity.
Lucien Frank (Brussels 1857-Ohain 1920)
«Low Tide with Fishermen»
Oil on canvas 60 x 84 cm
Signed lower right: L. Frank
On the back, the number 8053 presumably indicates that the painting participated in an exhibition.
Impressionist painter, watercolorist, and pastel artist of city views, landscapes, seascapes, and figures.
Lucien Frank was born in Brussels on November 10, 1857, and died in Ohain (France) on January 19, 1920.
The critic Edouard–Louis De Taye wrote about him in the context of an 1898 exhibition:
«Délicat impressionist, symphonist and skilled technician.
A landscape painter who is both subtle and sincere, he knows how to communicate a lot of sweetness combined with obvious poetry to the sites he interprets»
Lucien Frank was a pupil of Daubigny (one of the most important painters of the «Ecole de Barbizon») in Paris where he also met Manet.
He made his debut at the «Salon d’Anvers» in 1881.
Frank regularly participated in the «Exposition Générale des Beaux-Arts» in Brussels, exhibiting
in 1881: «Sous bois» and Environs de Groenendael»;
in 1887: «Soleil couchant»;
in 1893: «Avril, Tervueren» and «Chemin des loups, Tervueren»;
in 1897: «Il neige» (Exposition Internationale de Bruxelles);
in 1900: «Crépuscule», «Mouvement du port, Dordrecht» and «Contrejour, Dordrecht»;
in 1903: «Soir d’hiver», «Soir de septembre» and «Crépuscule»;
in 1907: «Etang de Valkenburg», «Entre chien et loup» and «Rijsoord Hollande»
From 1882 he exhibited impressionist landscapes and city views of France and Flanders at the «Salon des Artistes Français» in Paris.
In particular, he presented «Sous bois» in 1882, «Mai, paysage» in 1891, «Décembre, Tervueren» and «Chemin des loups, Tervueren» in 1893.
At the 1901 Salon of the «Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts» (Paris) he exhibited «Crépuscule».
At the «Salon des Beaux-Arts» in Ostend in 1907 he exhibited 14 paintings.
(Cf. Attached list)
In 1912, he presented two paintings at the exhibition: «Sommaire des peintures et sculptures de l’Ecole Contemporaine» at the «Musée National du Luxembourg» in Paris.
From 1890, Frank worked in the surroundings of Tervuren, considered the «Barbizon of Belgian painters». But also the Belgian coast, the Netherlands, France and Spain attracted his attention, these places in fact were sources of inspiration that allowed him to acquire a very personal style.
His clear and bright landscapes convey the joy of living to the image of his cheerful personality while his city views fully describe the carefree atmosphere of the Belle Epoque.
«Lucien Frank seems to have an easy job, he sees correctly, he varies his impressions and, however preoccupied he may be with variety and movement, it must be admitted that he brings much choice, taste, and discernment to this abundance» wrote Georges Eeckhoudt in 1913.
Description:
The painting described here depicts a boat at low tide surrounded by fishermen. The painting, characterized by a vibrant touch and a material palette, shows Frank's great ability to render the effects of light, involving the observer in the changing and impalpable atmosphere of «en plein air» painting.
Works in the following museums:
Brussels: Musées Royaux des Beaux Arts de Belgique: «Automne», «Mare à l’automne», «Quai de pêcheurs à Ostende», «En Hollande»;
Ixelles: Musée des Beaux Arts «Avril à Tervuren»;
Tervuren: Musée Hof van Melijn: «Etang à Vossem», «Verger en fleurs à Groenendael», «La rue du Hertenberg à Tervuren»;
Liège: Musée des Beaux-Arts: «In the Breeze»; Mons; Antwerp;
Paris: «Musée d’Art Moderne;
Lyon: Musée des Beaux-Arts: «Les nouvelles de la guerre, Place Bellecour à Lyon».
Bibliography:
E.Bénézit
«Dictionnaire des peintres, sculpteurs, dessinateurs et graveurs»
Ed.Grund vol.4 (p.501)
P.& V. Berko and Norbert Hostyn
«Seascapes of belgian painters born between 1750 & 1875"
Ed. Laconti (p.72)
Paul Piron
«PIRON: Dictionnaire des Artistes Plasticiens de Belgique des XIX et XX siècles»
Ed. Art in Belgium (p.587)
Andrée Dessert -Corvol
«ARTO: Dictionnaire Biographique Arts Plastiques en Belgique»
(pp. 45-47)
Paul Piron
"Deux siècles de signatures d'artistes de Belgique"
Ed. Art in Belgium (p.264)
Serge Goyens de Heusch
"L'impressionisme et le fauvisme en Belgique"
Fonds Mercator Albin Michel (pp.59,112,113,115,455)
Herman De Vilder-Maurits Wynants
«L’Ecole de Tervueren»
ASBL Les Amis de l’Ecole de Tervueren 2000 (pp.235-236)
State of preservation: excellent
