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Victoria Dubourg
(1840-1926)
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Roses
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Victoria Dubourg gained notoriety during her lifetime as a painter of still life fruits and flowers, but most remember her as the wife of famous painter Henri Fantin-Latour. It is argued that Dubourg was taught how to paint by Latour because some of her paintings exhibited in the 1860’s and 1870’s were in his style, and were a departure from her usual work.
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Vase de Fleurs
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It is said that besides Latour, Dubourg was one of the most prolific painters of flowers in the 19th century. Though often overshadowed by her famous husband, Dubourg held her own as an artist and won awards at the Paris Salon in 1894 and 1895.
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Vase de Fleurs, 1882
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Dubourg was a Realist and cited the painter Chardin as one of her influences. Through Latour, Dubourg became acquainted with other famous French artists of the day, and even had her portrait painted by Edgar Degas.
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Vase de Fleurs
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She would often sign her work either “V. Dubourg” or “VD” in the lower right or left hand corner on the front of her compositions. Dubourg primarily painted in oil, and while her compositions were neither groundbreaking in style nor emotionally evocative, she was truly a master of her craft. Many art critics have touted her (and Latour) at being masters in creating the perfect floral still life, using light and color to their advantage.
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Dahlias Next to a Vase, 1871
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Because her style was so similar to her husbands when paintings flowers, sometimes authenticators have a hard time distinguishing whether a painting is by Dubourg or Latour. Sometimes they are accredited to both. However, since Dubourg outlived Latour by nearly 22 years, one may assume that anything painted after the death of Latour would be accredited to Dubourg. Also confusing is that sometimes her work is signed or accredited to Victoria Fantin-Latour, as opposed to Dubourg.
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Vase de Fleurs, 1913
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While her oeuvre is primarily filled with still life florals, Dubourg certainly painted landscapes, portraits and other subjects prior to meeting Latour. To find one of her early paintings, or even a piece that is a departure from her usual work, would be a treasure indeed. Still wondering about that floral still life hanging in your home? Contact us…perhaps it is an original from Victoria Dubourg.
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