Gustave Den Duyts (1850-1897) - Late 19th Century Pastel Wassail!

Description

A striking 19th Century pastel, showing a rustic farm building with a bonfire raging behind it. The sparks can be seen flying up over the top of the thatch against the night sky. A group of figures to the left seem to be dancing in the light of the fire. The artist has initialed to the lower right corner and the drawing has been presented in a fine gilt frame with card mount and gilt inner window. There is a label at the reverse with the artist's name and dates. On pastel paper.

Condition

The condition is typical for a picture of this age including some discolouration. There are some losses to the corners of the frame.

Size

22.5 x 33cm (8.9" x 13")
Framed Size: 47 x 58cm (18.5" x 22.8")

Artist Biography

Gustave Den Duyts (22 October 1850 - 13 February 1897) was a Belgian painter, watercolourist, pastelist, etcher and graphic artist, known for his landscapes.
He was born in Ghent into an art-loving family, the son of draughtsman Charles Den Duyts.
He set up in a small studio in the centre of Ghent with artist Jean Delvin, later the director of the Ghent Academy of Fine Arts, which he occupied until his death in 1897. In 1874 he took part in the Triennial Art Salon of Ghent for the first time.
Until 1880 Den Duyts continued his studies in the Art Society and Cercle Artistique in Ghent, where he maintained close contact with Jean Delvin and Armand Heins. Together they would become the main members of Ghent's art life in the 1870s.
In 1877 he won a medal at the Paris Salon and in 1881 the Ghent Museum of Fine Arts acquired his Panoramic view of the city of Ghent MSK.
In 1883, Den Duyts contracted pneumonia, which would degenerate into a chronic lung disease until his death. Because he began to feel misunderstood in Ghent, he left in 1887 to settle in Brussels.
He died in Brussels in 1897. He had married in 1895 and his daughter was born after his death.