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ANTOINE EMILE PLASSAN | The Locket
Oil on Panel
22 x 15 cms / 8¾ x 6 inches
Antoine Émile Plassan’s The Locket is a captivating figurative painting that epitomises the refinement of 19th-century artistry. This traditional artwork conveys an intimate moment, as the subject, lost in thought, delicately cradles a locket—an object laden with personal significance. With an emphasis based on the narrative oil painting, Plassan’s soft brushwork and exquisite attention to texture bring warmth and depth to the scene.
Antoine Émile Plassan was a distinguished French painter renowned for his intimate and tranquil genre scenes and portraits. Born in Bordeaux, Plassan exhibited frequently at the Paris Salon, earning medals in 1852, 1857, and 1859, and was appointed Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur in 1859.
Plassan's style is characterised by meticulous attention to detail and a warm, nuanced palette. His genre paintings often depict intimate domestic scenes, capturing the subtleties of human emotion and interaction. His ability to convey tenderness and depth within everyday moments led to him being such a highly lauded artist during his career and since.
Influenced by the Romantic movement, Plassan's paintings evoke a sense of wonder and awe, often incorporating a dreamlike quality. His admiration for Dutch Masters, particularly Rembrandt, is evident in his use of chiaroscuro, skilfully contrasting light and dark to enhance the emotional impact of his subjects.
Plassan was particularly celebrated for his remarkable ability to capture texture with great finesse. His delicate brushwork enabled him to render the textures of silk fabrics, velvet, and other luxurious materials with stunning realism. This is most evident in his portraits and still lifes, where the intricate folds of fabric and the soft sheen of materials are portrayed in a way that suggests not just visual detail but also tactile presence. Plassan’s ability to evoke the materiality of surfaces — whether it be the plush softness of velvet or the reflective smoothness of silk — demonstrated his mastery of light and texture, adding a layer of depth and sensuality to his works.
The significance of Plassan's work lies in his ability to elevate commonplace scenes into profound artistic expressions. By focusing on the beauty and complexity of everyday life, he offers viewers a glimpse into the nineteenth century French domestic sphere, preserving its cultural and social nuances.
Plassan’s work can today be found in many of the worlds most important collections, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Royal Collection of England and the museums of Bordeaux, Montreal and Reims. His technical proficiency and emotive compositions have earned him recognition as a celebrated artist whose works continue to resonate with audiences today.
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