Lot Essay
Albert Guillaume was the son of Edmond Guillaume who was a professor of architecture at the Ecole des Beaux Arts. Encouraged by his father to pursue his studies as a painter, Albert entered the studio of Gérôme. Th latter's studio was one of the most prestigious and competative, and his students followed a rigorous academic program which placed an emphasis on draftsmanship. The lessons learned from this master, are clearly evident in Le Chef d'oeuvre. Guillaume was praised for his amusing genre scenes and was a faithful contributor to the Société National des Beaux Arts.