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Stanislas Victor Eduard
Lepin

France • 1835−1892

Biography and information

French landscape painter.

Born October 3 in Cana in a family of craftsmen. He began his picturesque career as a self-taught, however, in subsequent years, perhaps he took lessons from Camille Corot, whose art was fascinated, like many artists of the time. In the 1860-ies Lepine was certainly influenced by Jongkind, both in the choice of subjects for his landscapes (his favorite subjects during this period were images of river boats), and in a picturesque manner, transmitting vibrations of water and air. Some features, in particular, the choice of the motives and interest to the state of the weather, his landscapes anticipate the work of the Impressionists, however, are more restrained color, and more stringent style of writing.

From 1859, lépine began showing his landscapes at the exhibitions of the Paris Salon. He is extremely successful in the genre of the urban landscape, skillfully conveying the atmosphere of the old Parisian streets, especially corners of Montmartre where he lived. Most of all, the artist has been cloudy in which he achieved extraordinary variety of shades of gray. In 1873, Lepine joined the Anonymous society of artists, painters, sculptors, engravers: a year later he took part in the First exhibition of the group that later became to call themselves Impressionists. However, lépine left behind from their spectacular innovations and experiments with color, being a master of nuance. In 1886 he participated in the exhibition organized by Durand-Ruel in the United States, and in 1889 showed his views on the world exhibition in Paris.

Lepine wrote primarily of Paris and its suburbs. His work, quiet and unobtrusive, was not popular among collectors and dealers in paintings. The artist died in Paris on 28 Sep 1892 in perfect poverty. To spend his last journey, friends collected funds.