Adrien Moreau (French, 1843-1906)The grape harvest
signed 'ADRIEN_MOREAU.' (lower right)
oil on canvas
132 x 180cm (51 15/16 x 70 7/8in).注脚Provenance
Private collection, Spain.

Having trained at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris under Leon Cogniet, Adrien Moreau first exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1868, aged just 25. Described by one critic as an artist who 'emancipated himself from the traditions of his teaching and displayed his own individuality in his works'1, Moreau was able to apply his skills to landscape, genre and historical painting, equally adept at creating a medieval fantasy, or a Naturalist narrative, such as in the present lot.

Moreau was a regular and prolific exhibitor at the Salon, and his work was in high demand during his lifetime, especially among American collectors. He also provided illustrations for important literary works by Victor Hugo, Honoré de Balzac and Voltaire. Moreau was awarded the Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur in 1892 for his services to art.

1 H.W.S., 'Sous La Feuille', The Magazine of Art Illustrated, vol. 3, 1880, p. 301.