The farm - Henri Ferdinand Bellan (1870-1922)

Oil on canvas measuring 65X54 cm representing a Norman farm in 1911, signed lower right.

Ferdinand Bellan was born in Paris on April 5, 1870. He first followed the teaching of François Feyen-Perrin, then entered the School of Fine Arts where he took lessons from Léon Bonnat and Alfred Roll. The artist exhibited for the first time at the Salon des Artistes Français in 1888, then every year between 1896 and 1914; Ferdinand Bellan was again present at the Salon in 1920 and 1921.

The year 1902 marks the beginning of success and recognition for Ferdinand Bellan. Indeed, that year he obtained the Raigecourt-Goyon Prize, then a travel grant, which enabled him to perfect his knowledge by studying in particular the Italian and Spanish masters. That same year, Ferdinand Bellan was also awarded an honorable mention at the Salon des Artistes Français. The city of Paris bought his painting entitled "Angélus", then "Prière d'un soir" in 1903. Ferdinand Bellan obtained a third class medal in 1903 and a second class medal in 1910. He participated in the Colonial Exhibition of Marseille in 1906 where he presented several landscapes.