Lot Essay
Gilbert was considered the pre-eminent painter of place du marché successfully depicting the realism of its halls in a most amiable fashion. He achieved considerable success and firmly established his reputation at the 1880 Salon when he obtained a second class medal, critical acclaim and a state purchase for his painting now at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Lille. In 1897 he was made a Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur.
Gilbert's vibrant image is enhanced by his realistic sense of detail and close observations of nature. A master of still life and textures, he has paid attention to a myriad of detail. Whether focusing on the red and white geraniums, the weave of a baskets, or the store facades in the background, his work is a tour de force - a demonstration of the varying reflections of light on different surfaces.
Gilbert's vibrant image is enhanced by his realistic sense of detail and close observations of nature. A master of still life and textures, he has paid attention to a myriad of detail. Whether focusing on the red and white geraniums, the weave of a baskets, or the store facades in the background, his work is a tour de force - a demonstration of the varying reflections of light on different surfaces.