Paul Huet (1803-1869), Fontaine de Vaucluse

Paul HUET (1803-1869), nicknamed the “Delacroix of landscape”, painted “La cascade à Fontaine-de-Vaucluse” in 1840. This daring artist broke with his masters, Pierre-Narcisse GUÉRIN (1774-1833) and Antoine-Jean GROS (1771-1835), through the extreme sensitivity he brought to his landscapes, particularly in his small and medium-format works.
His watercolors, particularly those depicting the environs of southern France and the seascapes of the Normandy coast, testify to his mastery in exploring the theme of light. Deeply influenced by the British masters John CONSTABLE (1776-1837) and William TURNER (1775-1851), Huet succeeded in transcribing the play of light and atmospheric nuances.
A great explorer, his work varied according to his travels: he repeatedly explored Normandy, Auvergne, Provence and the Île-de-France region, as well as visiting Rome, Belgium and the Netherlands. His large-scale paintings, often conceived for exhibitions such as the Salon of 1853 and the Exposition Universelle of 1855, sometimes lack the spontaneity and chromatic lightness of his studies and watercolors, which remain the most vibrant expressions of his talent.