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Paul Seignac

Paul Seignac was horn in Bordeaux on 12 February 1826. He became a pupil of Edouard Picot (1786-1868) in Paris, a history painter who executed a number of commissions in churches in Paris. Seignac followed a different path specializing in genre painting depicting children and rural life. This was a popular genre throughout Europe in the nineteenth century, compatriots included Simon Cahaillot (1810-1885) known as Louis Lasalle, Theophile Emmanuel Duverger (1821-1895) and Pierre Edouard Frere (1819-1886); in England artists such as William Bromley and Thomas Webster specialized in this field.

Many of Seignac's works show children in endearing, if unlikely roles, "The History Lesson", "A Willing Helper", "Hard at Work", achieving an almost didactic quality. In others, children might be reprimanded for some slight misdemeanor, but all are calculated to appeal to maternal and paternal feelings.

Seignac also painted rural life, outdoor scenes set in country villages, depicting charming scenes of everyday life. These works, picturesque as they are, show the germ of social realism propagated by Jules Bastion Pelage (1848-1884) and Jean Francois Millet (1814-1875) whose works enjoyed huge popularity in the latter half of the century.

Seignac exhibited at the Paris Salon, making his debut in 1849, and receiving an honorable mention in 1889. His works were, and remain, popular with collectors in France, (he was represented by Galerie des Artistes Moderne in Paris in his lifetime), England and the United States.

Museums:
Ajaccio Corsica
Reims

Biography courtesy of Roughton Galleries, www.antiquesandfineart.com/roughton

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