FRITS THAULOW (NORWEGIAN 1847-1906)

FRITS THAULOW (NORWEGIAN 1847-1906)


Automne doré [near Quimperlé], ca. 1901

oil on canvas

73 x 91 cm (28 3/4 x 35 3/4 in.)

framed dimensions: 86 x 105.5 x 6 cm (33 7/8 x 41 1/2 x 2 3/8 in.)

signed lower right




PROVENANCE

J.J, Gillespie Gallery, Pittsburgh

Acquired from above in 1964 by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Leidy Snowdon of Pittsburgh

thence by descent to Elizabeth Reeves Snowdown Hoopers

thence by descent to Elizabeth Coudon Hoopes Field of North Hampton, New Hampshire




LOT NOTES

Frits Thaulow was one of Norway’s leading painters of the late 19th century, admired across Europe for his atmospheric landscapes and exceptional depictions of water. Born in Christiania (now Oslo) in 1847, he studied at the Academy of Art in Copenhagen before training under Hans Gude in Karlsruhe, absorbing a deep commitment to naturalistic painting.



After early success in Norway, Thaulow moved to France in the 1880s, where he became closely associated with the Naturalist movement. His time in Quimperlé, Brittany proved especially significant, as the town’s rivers, bridges, and rustic streets inspired a series of lyrical canvases that combined impressionistic light with careful realism. These works brought him wide acclaim at the Paris Salon and firmly established his international reputation. 



Thaulow spent much of his later career in northern France, particularly in Dieppe, where he continued to paint serene waterways and provincial towns. Honored with medals at the Paris Salon and the Expositions Universelles of 1889 and 1900, he became one of Scandinavia’s most celebrated artistic exports. 




CONDITION

Observed out of frame, the work is in good condition, relined. Inspection under UV light reveals about 20% of the painting surface has some retouching, generally confined to the lower right quadrant.




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