In the series of forgotten painters from the first exhibition of the Société Anonyme Coopérative des Peintres, Sculpteurs et Graveurs in 1874, this ninth article evokes Émilin Mulot-Durivage (1836-1920).
We do not know much about this artist born in Granville and who will present at the exhibition 2 of his works "Barques à Plomb" and "La Ramp". Dismissed at the Official Salon of 1875, he participated in the Salon des Refusés the same year. In 1882, he was cited as a participant in the Impressionist exhibition in the Durand-Ruel gallery.
Émilien Mulot-Durivage will exhibit in particular in Rouen and Angers. Essentially a landscape painter, his style is characteristic of an abundant approach to vegetation with quick touches and pretty light-shadow contrasts.
When he ventures to paint portraits, Mulot-Durivage's style becomes characteristic of the proposals that Claude Monet (the lady in green) or Gustave Caillebotte (the floor planers) could have made. Heavy draping of rugs and tablecloths, precise patterns, backlighting, strong perspective, are the ingredients of "Woman painter in her studio", date unknown.
Émilien Mulot-Durivage left Paris where he rubbed shoulders with Edgar Degas and Pierre-Auguste Renoir to settle in Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte with his sister Azelma. He acquired some notoriety by painting the landscapes of the Douve valley and was noted for his views of houses and gardens.
Dans ses conférences d'histoire de l'art, Fabrice Roy conjugue le passé au présent, dans une évocation poétique et ludique du 19ème siècle français...
