Edgard Maxence (1871-1954) - French School Gouache Zinni's in Creamware

Description

A remarkable still life painting by the French Symbolist artist Edgard Maxence (1871-1954). The arrangement depicts a bold display of zinnias in an openwork creamware basket before two framed portraits. The composition is symmetrical with the floral arrangement front and centre, balanced by the portraits on either side. Maxence renders the still life in exquisite detail, layering gouache and pastel on top of watercolour to heighten the scene. The work is beautifully housed in a rustic wooden frame behind glass with its original exhibition catalogue number (most likely from the Salon des Artistes Français) still intact. Signed 'Edgar Maxence' lower right. On paper laid to board.

Condition

The artwork is in excellent condition for its age. Minor dirtying to the surface of the painting. Light wear and marks to the wooden frame give an insight into the painting's past. No signs of restoration present.

Size

56.5 x 56.5cm (22.2" x 22.2")
Framed Size: 68.5 x 68.5cm (27.0" x 27.0")

Artist Biography

Edgard Maxence was born in Nantes and trained at Paris's École des Beaux-Arts under Élie Delaunay and Gustave Moreau, studying alongside future luminaries including Henri Matisse, Georges Rouault, Henri Evenepoel, Jules Flandrin, Albert Marquet, and Léon Printemps. He began showing his work at the Salon des Artistes Français in 1894. Though Maxence worked largely in isolation, his artistic vision placed him firmly within the Symbolist movement, characterised by his fascination with romanticised historical periods and enigmatic atmosphere. Over many years, he depicted medieval narratives and ethereal women – praying, making music – set against haunting forests and sacred interiors. His technical experimentation with tempera, gilded surfaces, and oil mixed with wax on meticulously prepared wood panels gave his paintings a devotional, almost Byzantine character. From 1895 to 1897, Maxence exhibited at the prestigious Salon de la Rose+Croix, curated by Joséphin Péladan. He was also an accomplished portraitist and garnered significant recognition throughout his career: a gold medal at the 1900 Exposition Universelle, election to the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 1924, and the rank of Officer of the Legion of Honor in 1927. Despite these accolades, he remained devoted to his dreamlike, contemplative imagery – works distinguished by their quietude and otherworldly quality – until his death in 1954.