DUPRÉ, Julien

French painter. He devoted his artistic career to the depiction of French peasant women, and he is regarded as the closest follower of Jules Breton. He received his academic training from renowned artists such as Isidore Pils, Henri Lehmann and Desire-Francois Laugée (1823-1896).

Dupré often rendered his subjects engaged in vigorous action, toiling against the backdrop of a breathtaking landscape. Dupré’s truth to nature is constant throughout his body of work. His use of high colour and technique, especially in terms of natural light, allow him to masterfully portray his human and animal subjects with a dynamic of power and grace. His beautiful figures also pay tribute to his academic training while the attention he afforded to the scenery shows the influence of Impressionist theory.

Dupré exhibited works at every Salon from 1876 until his death in 1910 and earned critical acclaim for his depictions of peasant life. He was awarded medals at several Salon Exhibitions and received a Gold Medal at the Exposition Universelle in 1889 for his pictorial representations of the life of the farm worker.