François VERNAY (1821 -1896) - Fruits cobbler with flowers

François VERNAY (Lyon, 1821 - id.,1896) - Fruits cobbler with flowers

Vernay studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Lyon and exhibited at the Paris Salon from 1868 to 1880. He devoted himself almost exclusively to still lifes of flowers and fruits, thus joining the long line of Lyon artists specialising in this genre. However, Vernay is a major figure in this field insofar as his technique is decisive and his color palette rich and varied. It achieves warm harmonies accentuated by a generous but never exaggerated application of color. At first, he painted in a simple style, favouring realism and precision. From about 1853, however, he began to experiment with different techniques that admitted an even more direct approach to his subjects. At the end of his life, he chose to paint primarily in watercolor and draw rather than paint in oils. These last works show a remarkably expressive and developed sensitivity.