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Charles Roussel (1861-1936)
“Return of the Shrimpers”
24 x 42 1/2 inches
oil on canvas
signed lower left
“Return of the Shrimpers”
24 x 42 1/2 inches
oil on canvas
signed lower left
In 1882, Charles Roussel studied at the Academie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, under artists Cabanel and Weerts, and lived next to Manet. After
graduating, he left Paris and traveled, looking for inspirational sites to sketch. In his travels, he met the artists Boudin, Tattegrain, and Gaugin, who
became his friends and mentors. Eurgene Boudin and Roussel had much in common and the elder master had a great influence on his work.
Roussel found a spiritual home in the small seacoast village of Berck, near Honfleur. The rich body of work he left is the most extensive record of
the fishing life of the Normandy coast in existence. He was fascinated by the daily routines of the coastal people and his depictions of them reflect a
profound social conscience, like that of the Barbizon artists. Roussel's fisherfolk and their relationship with the environment express the theme of
man being close to God through living in harmony with nature, much like Millet's reverence for the rural peasant.
Roussel did not like selling his work and carefully chose his patrons. His friend, the Baroness James de Rothschild, had a home in Berck and
bought many of his canvases. Despite Roussel's reclusive nature and shyness at fame, his talent was appreciated by the Academy and celebrated
annually at the Salon des Artistes Francais for forty-eight years.
When Roussel died, his grieving wife went into seclusion, surrounded herself with his paintings, and refused to let them be seen. After her death in
1974, when Roussel's only son (Charles Jr.) inherited the collection, these extraordinary treasures emerged into the art world again.
The debut of the paintings was an international celebration which began at Vose Galleries in Boston in 1989, and included programs at the French
Library in Boston. The Boston Symphony Orchestra performed works by Roussel's cousin, the famous composer, Albert Roussel, while conductor
Charles Dutoit commented on the similarities in the two creative spirits. After the success of the debut, three exhibits followed at Vose Galleries in
1991, 1992 and 1993, and another at Babcock Galleries in New York, before the family stopped releasing paintings. The rediscovery of Roussel's
works established a great demand for them, yet now we wait for each work to by released by the family.
graduating, he left Paris and traveled, looking for inspirational sites to sketch. In his travels, he met the artists Boudin, Tattegrain, and Gaugin, who
became his friends and mentors. Eurgene Boudin and Roussel had much in common and the elder master had a great influence on his work.
Roussel found a spiritual home in the small seacoast village of Berck, near Honfleur. The rich body of work he left is the most extensive record of
the fishing life of the Normandy coast in existence. He was fascinated by the daily routines of the coastal people and his depictions of them reflect a
profound social conscience, like that of the Barbizon artists. Roussel's fisherfolk and their relationship with the environment express the theme of
man being close to God through living in harmony with nature, much like Millet's reverence for the rural peasant.
Roussel did not like selling his work and carefully chose his patrons. His friend, the Baroness James de Rothschild, had a home in Berck and
bought many of his canvases. Despite Roussel's reclusive nature and shyness at fame, his talent was appreciated by the Academy and celebrated
annually at the Salon des Artistes Francais for forty-eight years.
When Roussel died, his grieving wife went into seclusion, surrounded herself with his paintings, and refused to let them be seen. After her death in
1974, when Roussel's only son (Charles Jr.) inherited the collection, these extraordinary treasures emerged into the art world again.
The debut of the paintings was an international celebration which began at Vose Galleries in Boston in 1989, and included programs at the French
Library in Boston. The Boston Symphony Orchestra performed works by Roussel's cousin, the famous composer, Albert Roussel, while conductor
Charles Dutoit commented on the similarities in the two creative spirits. After the success of the debut, three exhibits followed at Vose Galleries in
1991, 1992 and 1993, and another at Babcock Galleries in New York, before the family stopped releasing paintings. The rediscovery of Roussel's
works established a great demand for them, yet now we wait for each work to by released by the family.
