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The Milk Maid by Léon Augustin Lhermitte
- The Milk Maid captures Léon Augustin Lhermitte’s celebrated ability to portray rural life
- The pastoral scene exemplifies the artist’s renowned depictions of agricultural workers
- A solitary figure carrying milk buckets crosses a bridge, likely returning from the distant meadow
- Lhermitte was one of the most accomplished French Naturalist painters of the 19th century
- Get complete item description here
$98,500
Item No.
32-2621
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Description
Léon Augustin Lhermitte
1844-1925 | French
The Milk Maid
Signed “L. Lhermitte” (lower right)
Oil on canvas
A masterful example of French Naturalism, The Milk Maid captures Léon Augustin Lhermitte’s celebrated ability to portray rural life with dignity, authenticity and profound humanity. Painted near Wissant in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, this pastoral scene exemplifies the artist’s renowned depictions of agricultural workers and the rhythms of everyday life.
A solitary figure carrying milk. . .
1844-1925 | French
The Milk Maid
Signed “L. Lhermitte” (lower right)
Oil on canvas
A masterful example of French Naturalism, The Milk Maid captures Léon Augustin Lhermitte’s celebrated ability to portray rural life with dignity, authenticity and profound humanity. Painted near Wissant in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, this pastoral scene exemplifies the artist’s renowned depictions of agricultural workers and the rhythms of everyday life.
A solitary figure carrying milk. . .
Read More
Léon Augustin Lhermitte
1844-1925 | French
The Milk Maid
Signed “L. Lhermitte” (lower right)
Oil on canvas
A masterful example of French Naturalism, The Milk Maid captures Léon Augustin Lhermitte’s celebrated ability to portray rural life with dignity, authenticity and profound humanity. Painted near Wissant in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, this pastoral scene exemplifies the artist’s renowned depictions of agricultural workers and the rhythms of everyday life.
A solitary figure carrying milk buckets crosses a bridge, likely returning from the distant meadow after milking cows. Lhermitte’s carefully observed details, from the weathered landscape to the windmill rising in the background, evoke the timeless beauty of the French countryside. Through his sensitive handling of light, atmosphere and human expression, the artist transforms a quiet rural moment into a powerful celebration of labor and perseverance.
One of the most accomplished French Naturalist painters of the 19th century, Lhermitte earned international acclaim for his deeply empathetic portrayals of peasant life. A celebrated Salon artist and member of the Legion of Honor, he was admired by many of his contemporaries, including Vincent van Gogh, who greatly revered his work. Van Gogh famously praised Lhermitte’s compositions, writing, “It is certain that for years I have not seen anything as beautiful as this scene by Lhermitte.” Today, Lhermitte’s works are held in major institutions worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago and other leading collections.
The authenticity of this work has been confirmed by the Comité Lhermitte, Galerie Brame & Lorenceau, who will include it in the supplement to their catalogue raisonné on the artist.
19th Century
Canvas: 27 1/2” high x 33” wide (69.85 x 83.82 cm)
Frame: 34 1/2” high x 40” wide x 2” deep (87.63 x 101.60 x 5.08 cm)
Provenance:
Private collection, Maine
Private collection, England
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
Literature:
For a pastel version, see: Monique le Pelley Fonteny, Léon Augustin Lhermitte. Catalogue raisonné, Paris, 1991, p. 266, no. 615.
1844-1925 | French
The Milk Maid
Signed “L. Lhermitte” (lower right)
Oil on canvas
A masterful example of French Naturalism, The Milk Maid captures Léon Augustin Lhermitte’s celebrated ability to portray rural life with dignity, authenticity and profound humanity. Painted near Wissant in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, this pastoral scene exemplifies the artist’s renowned depictions of agricultural workers and the rhythms of everyday life.
A solitary figure carrying milk buckets crosses a bridge, likely returning from the distant meadow after milking cows. Lhermitte’s carefully observed details, from the weathered landscape to the windmill rising in the background, evoke the timeless beauty of the French countryside. Through his sensitive handling of light, atmosphere and human expression, the artist transforms a quiet rural moment into a powerful celebration of labor and perseverance.
One of the most accomplished French Naturalist painters of the 19th century, Lhermitte earned international acclaim for his deeply empathetic portrayals of peasant life. A celebrated Salon artist and member of the Legion of Honor, he was admired by many of his contemporaries, including Vincent van Gogh, who greatly revered his work. Van Gogh famously praised Lhermitte’s compositions, writing, “It is certain that for years I have not seen anything as beautiful as this scene by Lhermitte.” Today, Lhermitte’s works are held in major institutions worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago and other leading collections.
The authenticity of this work has been confirmed by the Comité Lhermitte, Galerie Brame & Lorenceau, who will include it in the supplement to their catalogue raisonné on the artist.
19th Century
Canvas: 27 1/2” high x 33” wide (69.85 x 83.82 cm)
Frame: 34 1/2” high x 40” wide x 2” deep (87.63 x 101.60 x 5.08 cm)
Provenance:
Private collection, Maine
Private collection, England
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
Literature:
For a pastel version, see: Monique le Pelley Fonteny, Léon Augustin Lhermitte. Catalogue raisonné, Paris, 1991, p. 266, no. 615.
Read Less
Specifications
| Maker: | L'hermitte, Léon Augustin |
| Period: | 1816-1918 |
| Origin: | France |
| Type: | Paintings |
| Style: | Realism |
| Depth: | 2.0 in. (5.08 cm) |
| Width: | 40.0 in. (101.6 cm) |
| Height: | 34.5 in. (87.63 cm) |
| Canvas Width: | 33.000 in. (83.82 cm) |
| Canvas Height: | 27.500 in. (69.85 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
