Adolphe-Félix Cals (French, 1810-1880)
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Adolphe-Félix Cals (French, 1810-1880)

Mère et ses enfants au Saint-Siméon: the loving mother

Details
Adolphe-Félix Cals (French, 1810-1880)
Mère et ses enfants au Saint-Siméon: the loving mother
signed, inscribed and dated 'Cals Honfleur 1877' (lower left)
oil on canvas
131 x 161 cm.
Literature
A. Alexandre, A.-F. Cals ou le bonheur de peindre, 1900, p. 191-192, 216.
Special notice
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Lot Essay

Adolphe-Félix Cals resided in Honfleur from 1873 onwards. He was a frequent guest at the ferme Saint-Siméon. Together with Boudin and his good friend Jongkind he was a part of the circle of artist's working in that part of France at the time. In this respect he may be considered one of the predecessors of the Impressionist movement.

The artist left a variety of letters describing his work to friends. In one of these he outlines his intentions and how the present lot formed a challenge to his artistry: "J'ai terminé une grande toile de 1m60 sur 1m30, une mère assise sous les arbres avec quatre enfants, dont le plus jeune, un poulot de quelques mois, est encore au sein. J'avais commencé ce tableau l'anneé dernière, mais j'avais du l'abandonner après déjà bien du travail, et je 'ai repris cette année et enfin achevae. Je crois qu'il n'est pas mal venu, mais quel mal il m'a donné! C'est le première toile aussi grande que je fais d'un sujet en plein air. J'ai cherché a y mettre un peu du charme et de la tendresse de la nature et du sentiment de la famille." (Loc cit.)

Compare with the drawing reproduced in the book by Arsène Alexandre on the artist (op cit. p. 179).

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