Antoine Vollon

Studio of the artist;

His sale, Drouot, 20-23 May 1901;

Private Collection, New York;

With Mark Brady, New York.

Known as “one of the princes of French art,” 19th-century artist Antoine Vollon completed this small, introspective still life of a book and writing instruments as an homage to the Dutch masters of the 17th century. A frequent exhibitor at the annual salons in Paris, Vollon was lauded as an ouvrier or “mason” for embracing the simple, familiar beauty of everyday life. The small size of the painting, as well as the quick, broad brush strokes, contribute to a sense of intimacy, suggesting that the work was perhaps intended for private contemplation or reflection. A soft, buttery yellow light emphasizes not only the importance of the information held within the pages of the books, but also demonstrates Vollon’s technical virtuosity by contrasting the brittle qualities of the creased and crumpled pages of the books with the smooth, hard surface of the pen and ink bottle. The artist’s deft touch when rendering texture, color, and form emphasizes his masterful ability to “animate the inanimate.” Alongside his contemporaries–realist artists such as Gustave Courbet, Jean-François Millet, and François Bonvin–Vollon anticipated the artistic movement known as Impressionism through his focus on the transient, yet extraordinary qualities of everyday life. 

We are grateful to Dr. Carol Forman Tabler, who has kindly confirmed the authenticity of this painting on the basis of photographs.