DESCELLES Paul (1851-1915) 

"Market in Saint-Dié des Vosges"

Oil on canvas, 
Signed lower left, 

Beautiful and rare work by the French painter Paul Descelles which depicts the market in Rue Thiers in Saint Dié des Vosges. 
The artist takes particular care with the details of the fruits and vegetables on the market stalls in the foreground and the play of light. In the background of the bustle of the market, we can see the bell tower of the Saint-Martin church. 

The artist exhibited at the Salon of 1895, a work entitled "A market day in Saint-Dié", it could be our work. 

In 2025, the Pierre-Noël museum in Saint-Dié organized an exhibition of the painter Paul Descelles. 

Paul Descelles first painted decorations for the Muller earthenware factory in Raon-l'Étape where his father already worked, then became known for his portraits on enamel, but also painted on canvas and also produced illustrations for several magazines. Student of Mirbeck, Louis Gratia and Jules Adler in Saint-Dié des Voges. 
When Émile Gallé set up a workshop in the Raon earthenware factory to paint his decorations on earthenware, he hired Paul Descelles, whose talent he recognized. His enamel portraits were quickly appreciated. 

From 1880, he also painted on canvas and participated in the Salons from 1883 to 1914. In 1887 he exhibited on the Champs-Élysées "An execution" and "At the Hospice Saint Joseph, in Saint Dié". 
In 1895, he exhibited two oils at the Salon "The reelers at the old people's home in Saint Dié" and "A market day in Saint Dié". 

A painter of reality, he executed paintings based on local scenes taken from life: modest interiors, peasant scenes, women at the washhouse, a mother feeding her child, the feast of Saint Nicholas, etc. 
He was also the author of numerous large-scale portraits commissioned by friends and fellow Vosges residents. At the request of the bishopric, he executed several bust portraits of the bishops who succeeded one another in the episcopal seat of Saint-Dié. 
At the Parisian Salon of French Artists, he presented in 1914 two oil paintings "Vosges Interior" and "At Grandmother's". He also contributed to several magazines to which he provided illustrations. 

Several of his works have entered the Saint-Dié museum since 1977: Marine, Commandant Stouter, Paul Malé, German Wounded in the Cathedral of Saint-Dié in 1914, Mrs. Kohn-Grandidier (1907), full-length portrait, two anonymous (on earthenware), genre scene (on earthenware), The Night Birds 1907 and 1911 (2 paintings relating a news item from 1904). Other works are kept at the Langres museum (The washhouse of the hospice of Saint-Dié - 1888) and various private individuals. 
In 1888, he was made an officer of the academy, in recognition of his merits. 
His works are exhibited in Paris and he won several medals in the provinces. 

Dimensions: 46 x 54 cm without frame and 52.5 x 69.5 cm with an original frame in carved and gilded wood. 

For more information, contact us.