Buy With Confidence
For over a century, we've placed important art, rare jewels and exceptional objects with more than 14,000 collectors worldwide, and have been recognized by trusted publications including Robb Report, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and more.
On Approval
Examine select works in person before you commit
125% Guarantee
Full credit plus 5% annual appreciation for five years
Trusted Expertise
Over two centuries of combined experience across our specialists
Nature morte devant la fenetre by Léon de Smet
- This exceptional floral still life was painted by Belgian Luminist Léon de Smet
- Vibrant and intimate, the work captures the artist's own villa in Deurle, Belgium
- Among his signature subjects, floral still lifes were perfectly suited to de Smet's talents
- His important works can be found in renowned museums, including the MFA Ghent
- Get complete item description here
To speak to one of our experts, call 1-888-711-8084
1881-1966 | Belgian
Nature morte devant la fenetre
(Still Life in front of the Window)
Signed "Leon de Smet" (lower right)
Oil on canvas
Radiant and intimate, this floral still life by Léon de Smet captures the Belgian master at his most lyrical. Painted in 1950, the composition brings together a vivid bouquet of red, yellow, pink and violet blossoms, their petals animated by quick, expressive strokes of color.. . .
1881-1966 | Belgian
Nature morte devant la fenetre
(Still Life in front of the Window)
Signed "Leon de Smet" (lower right)
Oil on canvas
Radiant and intimate, this floral still life by Léon de Smet captures the Belgian master at his most lyrical. Painted in 1950, the composition brings together a vivid bouquet of red, yellow, pink and violet blossoms, their petals animated by quick, expressive strokes of color. Rather than rendering the flowers with strict botanical precision, de Smet transforms them into a celebration of light, texture and feeling—a hallmark of his distinctive Luminist sensibility.
By 1950, de Smet was an established master who developed a mature visual language rooted in luminous color, expressive brushwork and the quiet poetry of everyday surroundings. Painted in the artist’s villa in Deurle, the work takes on a personal dimension: the open window, garden view, patterned tablecloth and decorative objects suggest not a formal studio arrangement, but the intimate world of the artist’s own home. Floral still lifes were an important part of de Smet’s oeuvre, offering him an ideal vehicle for his greatest strengths.
Léon de Smet was born in Ghent in 1881 and studied at the city’s Academy of Fine Arts. The elder brother of the celebrated Flemish Expressionist Gustave de Smet, Léon developed a more Impressionist and Luminist approach, influenced by artists such as Emile Claus and Théo van Rysselberghe. He was associated with the artistic circles of Laethem-Saint-Martin and became known for his elegant interiors, landscapes, portraits and still lifes. His renowned work is represented in leading Belgian collections, including the Museum of Fine Arts Ghent and the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, affirming his place among the most significant Belgian painters of the early 20th century.
Circa 1950
Canvas: 24 3/4” high x 30 1/4” wide (62.9 x 76.8 cm)
Framed: 33 1/2” high x 38 3/4” wide x 3 1/8” deep (85.1 x 98.4 x 8 cm)
Provenance:
Private collection
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
| Maker: | de Smet, Leon |
| Period: | 1919-Present |
| Origin: | Belgium |
| Type: | Paintings |
| Style: | Impressionism |
| Depth: | 3.13 in. (7.94 cm) |
| Width: | 38.75 in. (98.43 cm) |
| Height: | 33.5 in. (85.09 cm) |
| Canvas Width: | 30.250 in. (76.84 cm) |
| Canvas Height: | 24.750 in. (62.87 cm) |
Buy With Confidence
For over a century, we've placed important art, rare jewels and exceptional objects with more than 14,000 collectors worldwide, and have been recognized by trusted publications including Robb Report, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and more.
On Approval
Examine select works in person before you commit
125% Guarantee
Full credit plus 5% annual appreciation for five years
Trusted Expertise
Over two centuries of combined experience across our specialists
