Cavaliers et calèche attributed to René PRINCETEAU (1843-1914)

René PRINCETEAU (1843-1914)

French painter known for his equestrian paintings, and as Toulouse Lautrec's first master.
A landscape painter and portraitist, René Princeteau perfectly captures the era of grand équipages, chasse à courre and horse racing.

A scene depicting horsemen accompanying women driving a carriage.
Painted with a lively brushstroke, this is typical of the work of René Princeteau, known for his agile brushwork that translates so well the movement and sense of speed and lightness of horse and rider.

He studied at the Institut des jeunes sourds in Paris. After taking sculpture courses in Bordeaux, in 1865 he studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, under the guidance of Auguste Dumont.
From 1868 onwards, he exhibited busts and genre paintings at the Salon des Artistes Français. He achieved notoriety with his horse paintings at the 1885 Salon.