French, 1847 – 1907
Paul Sebillau was a student of Louis Auguste Auguin, who was the the pre-eminent landscape artist of the Southwest region of France. Augin, in turn, was a student of the great Camille Corot, the father of the Barbizon school.
Sebillau interpreted the landscapes of the Southwest region of France called the Gironde. He debuted at the Paris Salon in 1877 with two drawings entitled Plantes des bords de La Gironde and Les bords de la Gironde a Lormont and exhibited at the Salon throughout his life, receiving much recognition. He was awarded an honorable mention in 1884, a bronze medal in 1889 at the Exposition Universelle, and a second class medal in 1899. He also painted in the Midi and in the surroundings of Paris.
This large major work by the artist was undoubtedly an exhibition piece. Impressive in scale, one senses the influence of Corot in the subtle use of light and the tranquil mood of the scene.
Museum collections:
Bordeaux : “Matinée au Golfe Juan”
Périgeux : “Lisiére de Bois a la Brede”
Rochefort : “Mortefontaine”
