Alexandre Defaux

He painted almost exclusively in the Barbizon region or in Normandy and his early landscapes reflect Corot's influence with large urban panoramic views and figures in Neapolitan peasant costume. In the 1850s Defaux painted several views of Normandy towns and large medieval churches (see Figure 1). Figure 1 presents a view of Rouen - most notably the silhouette of Rouen Cathedral - rising in the background under a hazy sky. In the foreground, a cluster of villagers occupies an earthen square, surrounded by rustic buildings. The scene is painted with a subdued, earthy palette and softened contours, characteristic of the Barbizon school. The juxtaposition of human activity and medieval architecture evokes a sense of enduring regional life within a historical urban landscape. Later, he adopted stronger color combinations and more painterly techniques that suggest influences extending to other Barbizon artists such as Théodore Rousseau and Narcisse Díaz de la Peña. His Forest of Fontainebleau presented out of competition at the Salon of 1879 and his canvas of the Breton cliffs and the port of Pont-Aven in the 1880 edition were acquired by the French State. Defaux was named Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 1881 and was awarded a gold medal at the 1900 World's Fair. • Illustration — "Rouen" Oil on Canvas.

Training under Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot is recorded. The recorded working language is French. Places of work recorded in the authority are Fontainebleau and Paris. Works named in the authority record are The Port of Pont-Aven. Work by Alexandre Defaux is recorded in the collections of Minneapolis Institute of Art, Finnish National Gallery, Musée d'Orsay, Musée Carnavalet and Musée d'art et d'histoire de Saint-Brieuc. Distinctions recorded are Knight of the Legion of Honour.

• Brassée de fleurs dans une jardinière • Les Cerisiers en fleurs en Normandie • Country Landscape with Flowering Trees • Feeding Time • In the Shelter of the Stack • Intérieur de Paris. Barricade de 1830 • Normandy Farm House • Paysage en Normandie • Poules pres d'un puits • A Fishing Village • Rouen