Pierre BONIROTE (1811-1891), Animated landscape (1876)

Signed lower left. Framed. Oil on canvas.

This painting by Pierre Bonirote depicts an expansive mountain scene bathed in clear, serene light. In the foreground, two women—presumably peasant figures—sit upon a grassy embankment. Their brightly colored garments contrast with the landscape’s soft hues, lending a sense of intimacy and life to the scene. In the distance, a valley unfolds toward a chain of majestic peaks beneath a blue sky dotted with luminous clouds. The composition is bordered by lush vegetation, rocky outcrops, and pines, evoking a nature that is at once wild and welcoming.

Bonirote arranges the composition along a diagonal that draws the viewer’s eye from the lower-left corner—where the figures are seated—into the depth of the landscape and up toward the summits. This choice of framing, typical of nineteenth?century landscape painting, both emphasizes the grandeur of nature and incorporates a moment of everyday life. The color palette is dominated by greens, blues, and ochres, with accents of pink and blue in the figures’ clothing. The soft, diffuse light suggests a tranquil moment, likely at dawn or dusk. The clouds are rendered with delicate touches, adding an atmospheric layer that deepens the sense of space.

Pierre Bonirote, an eclectic artist, deserves particular recognition for his landscape painting, especially for his numerous representations of Italy and Greece, while also aligning with the Orientalist movement. A student at the École des Beaux-Arts of Lyon under the tutelage of Pierre Révoil, he won the Prix de peinture in 1832. During his stay in Rome in 1836, he traveled throughout the Italian peninsula, gathering sketches and impressions. It was during this time that he met Ingres, Flandrin, and, most notably, the Duchess of Plaisance, who in 1840 entrusted him with the foundation and direction of a painting school in Athens, which he ran for three years.

As in Italy, he created numerous studies on-site, often in sepia or watercolor, depicting local landscapes and monuments. He also showed an interest in the archaeological discoveries of the time, incorporating them into charming canvases where he brought to life scenes populated by picturesque and colorful figures. His work thus became a valuable documentary source for understanding classical architecture and its state of preservation during that era.

Bonirote’s technique is characterized by a creamy, skillful handling of ochres and whites, to which he adds rich touches of color, particularly for clothing. With a few warm and luminous brushstrokes, he structures his compositions fluidly. His painting, closely resembling that of Chassériau, is distinguished by its liveliness and refinement. He also painted landscapes of the Lyonnais region, reflecting his attachment to his homeland. Bonirote exhibited his works at the Salon of Lyon from 1833 to 1892 and at the Salon of Paris from 1842 to 1870.