French Mythological Nude Camille F.Bellanger

Magnificent antique oil on canvas painting signed and dated Camille Bellanger 1877. Camille Felix Bellanger was one of the most talented and well schooled French artists of the 19th and early 20th centuries. He was born in Paris in 1853 and passed in 1923. Very few of his paintings have crossed the auction block. Most of his paintings are in museum collections. He was educated at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, The School of Beautiful Arts in Paris. He studied with the finest masters of the time. At the young age of 21 he won second prize at the Rome exposition. He went on to win many medals and prizes for his paintings. He became an art professor and went on to share his knowledge of painting to deserving artists. He became a knight of the Legion of Honor in 1911. This was the most important achievement any artist could attain. He was known for his exceptional paintings of historical subjects and nature. Camille Felix Bellanger (1853 - 1923) Born in Paris, France. Camille Bellanger received his artistic training at the ecole des Beaux Arts (School of Beautiful Fine Arts) in Paris. There, he studied under the famous Academic artists Alexandre Cabanel (1823-1889) and Adolphe William Bouguereau (1825-1905). In 1875 he won a second class medal in the Prix de Rome competition (Rome Prize) Bellanger painted a range of subjects from history, genre to portraits. Examples of his works include Death of Abel (1875); Angel at the Tomb (1877); Twilight and Morning (1881); Coucou! (1882); Cupid Asleep, A Florist (1883). Bellanger regularly exhibited his works at the French Salon in Paris. He wrote a book entitled (Treatise of Painting). He was also a professor of drawing at the military school of Saint-Cyr in 1911. Bellanger was decorated as a Chevalier de la Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honor). The painting we are offering in our opinion is his best work. It depicts a mythological wood nymph holding a tambourine. To her left is a Satyr term that appears to be glaring at her. Her eyes are looking at you from any angle of viewing. They follow you around the room. This is a big beautiful mythological nude oil on canvas. It measures 56 inches high by 38 inches wide. The framed size is 65 inches high by 45 inches wide. The painting is in superb condition having been professionally relined, and preserved by the finest painting conservator in the U.S. Aleksei Tivetsky. All one needs is a wall to hang this masterpiece on and the ability to recognize and appreciate one of the world's finest paintings. The painting is signed in the lower left Camille Bellanger and dated under the signature 1877. This will be the most beautiful and cherished possession for the art connoisseur or collector who becomes its new owner. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire one of the finest French 19th century paintings by one of the most important French Artists and professors. It is the most beautiful painting I have owned in my 60 years in the Antique business. When I walk into my office every morning I see her eyes looking at me. When I walk to my desk her eyes have followed me and she is looking right at me. The only reason for me offering this painting to the world is because I am over 80 years old and my children do not have a place to hang and enjoy this treasure as I have. Hopefully a museum curator will acquire it to display it to the world. Paintings by this artist are on display at the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco, The National Gallery of Art London and the Musse d'Orsay Paris.