André Perrachon (1828 - 1908), Scattering Of Roses

Oil on canvas. 24 x 30 cm. Signed lower right.

This oil on canvas delicately depicts a graceful composition centered on roses, blooming, arranged naturally on a dark and sober plant background, thus accentuating their luminosity and delicacy. The soft and nuanced touch faithfully transcribes the velvety texture of the wet petals, demonstrating remarkable technical mastery.

A white butterfly, delicately perched atop the flowers, reinforces the tranquil poetry of the work while adding a subtle touch of life and movement. Perrachon favors a soft and balanced harmony of colors, where the delicate pink contrasts pleasantly with the deep greens of the foliage.

This painting is fully in line with the Lyonnaise tradition of the floral genre, marked by meticulous attention to sensitive reality and a pronounced taste for elegant simplicity. The ensemble thus demonstrates the refinement and taste for discreet naturalism, characteristic of Perrachon's floral style, paying homage to the fleeting beauty of nature.

André Perrachon, trained at the École des Beaux-Arts in Lyon, continued his training in Paris in 1847, where he studied under François Lepage and Pierre-Adrien Chabal-Dessurgey, the latter being the director of the flower painting workshop at the Manufacture des Gobelins. He is renowned for his genre scenes and still lifes, but especially for his superb depictions of flowers, especially roses. His ability to capture the delicacy and precision of flowers with striking naturalness earned him great renown. He exhibited at the Paris Salon from 1850, receiving distinctions, including an honorable mention in 1859 and a second medal in 1863.

In 1887, he was elected president of the Société Lyonnaise des Beaux-Arts, a role that reflects his influence and central position in the Lyon art scene. As a teacher, he passed on his knowledge to several artists, including Claudia Bret-Charbonnier, Thérèse Guérin, Marie Girard-Nauwelaers, Marie Hodieux-Belous, Mathilde Mitton, as well as his grandson, Joseph Perrachon, who would go on to carry forward the family’s artistic legacy.