Jean Victor Bertin

Jean Victor Bertin (Paris 1767-1842) The entrance to the Park at Saint-Cloud, Paris oil on paper laid down on canvas 10½ x 14¾ in. (26.6 x 37.4 cm.) This atmospheric and beautifully observed sketch relates to the work on canvas, of almost identical dimensions, in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Bertin trained initially under the history painter Gabriel-François Doyen, but by 1788 he had become a pupil of Pierre-Henri Valenciennes, who encouraged him to paint idealised Italianate landscapes in the tradition of Poussin. In 1806 he travelled to Italy where he remained for two years. It was during this period that he developed a greater interest in topographical detail and the effects of atmosphere and light. From 1801 Bertin repeatedly proposed to the Académie the creation of a Prix de Rome in the category of historical landscape, efforts which did not come to fruition until 1817 when the first competition was won by his pupil, Achille-Etna Michallon. Although he flourished both during the Empire and the Restoration, it is difficult to construct a chronology for Bertin's painting as there are no precise documents for his early work. While his early paintings consistently drew on an idealized vision of landscape for inspiration, he eventually turned to painting more from nature. Bertin exhibited regularly at the Salon from 1793, receiving awards in 1799 and 1808 before being decorated with the Légion d'Honneur in 1822; he died shortly after in Paris in 1824.

Jean Victor Bertin (French, 1767-1842) Figures in a boat passing a riverside town oil on canvas laid down on board 36.5 x 31cm (14 3/8 x 12 3/16in). PROVENANCE: Collection of G. Bush, Esq Sale, Sotheby's London, 30 November 1977, lot 170 Private collection, UK For a comparative work see A Mill , 1800-06, oil on canvas 27 x 34 cm, in the collection of Musee Marmottan, Paris. Jean-Victor Bertin came from a family of master wig-makers. He studied at the Académie Royal from 1785 under Gabriel-François Doyen (1726-1806), but by 1788 he is known to have been studying with Pierre-Henri Valenciennes (1750-1819). Valenciennes encouraged him to paint Italianate landscapes imbued with an idealized heroic view of history in order to elevate a genre that he considered to be under valued. Bertin was an early proponent of sketching 'en plein-air', a direct observation of nature, and encouraged his students to adopt a similar approach. One of his pupils was Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot (1796-1875) who worked with Bertin from 1822 following the death of Achille Michallon (1796-1822), until he left for Italy in 1825. Bertin exhibited regularly at The Salon until his death in Paris in 1842. In 1822 he was awarded the Légion d'Honneur.

DescEN Bertin, Jean Victor Horsemen in landscape. Oil on canvas. Signed and dated 1811 lower right. Verso wax seal. Partial pigment loss caused by cleaning. Restored. Authentication: We would like to thank Mrs Chantal Mauduit, Cabinet Turquin, Experts en tableaux anciens, Paris, for the scientific advice via e-mail, based on photos. 1767 Paris - 1842 ebd. Reiter in Landschaft. Ol/Lw. In einer grun bewaldeten Landschaft mit einem kleinen Flusslauf, mehrere Figurenstaffagen zu Pferd, im Hintergrund eine Bergkette. U.r. sign. und 1811 dat. Verso Wachssiegel. Stellenweise Farbverlust durch Reinigung. Altrest. H. 46,5, B. 38 cm. Authentifizierung: Wir danken Frau Chantal Mauduit, Cabinet Turquin, Experts en tableaux anciens, Paris, fur die wissenschaftliche Beratung via E-Mail, anhand von Photos.

LOT 371 JEAN-VICTOR BERTIN PARIS 1767 - 1842 ITALIANATE LANDSCAPE signed and indistinctly dated lower left: Bertin / 1808 oil on canvas 60,000—80,000 USD measurements measurements note 13 by 16 1/8 in.; 33 by 41 cm. Description signed and indistinctly dated lower left: Bertin / 1808 oil on canvas Private Collection, France.

Jean-Victor Bertin (Paris 1767-1842) An Italianate river landscape with elegant company before avilla signed 'J.V. Bertin' (lower centre) oil on canvas 14½ x 17¾ in. (36.8 x 45.1 cm.) Lot Notes Jean-Victor Bertin entered the Academie Royal de Peinture as apupil of Gabriel François Doyen in 1785. He travelled to Italy in1806 where he developed his style during the following two years.Bertin adhered closely to Poussin's principles of idyllic landscapepainting, but he also introduced to his paintings directobservation of atmosphere and topography. Bertin exhibited at the Salon throughout his life and won numerousawards, including the Légion d'Honneur in 1822. As early as 1801Bertin had proposed to the Academie the creation of a Prix de Romefor historical landscape painting. The award was finally created in1817 and the inaugural competition was won by one of his ownpupils, Achille Michalas (1796-1822). Bertin was one of the mostinfluential teachers of the next generation of landscape painters,as evident in the works of his best-known pupil Jean-BaptisteCorot.