Albert Lugardon (1827-1909) - Cattle in a meadow by a lake

Oil on canvas
Signed and dated “Lugardon” lower left
Dimensions: 69 × 101.5 cm
Bibliography
Emmanuel Bénézit, Dictionnaire des peintres, sculpteurs, dessinateurs et graveurs, Gründ, 1970, vol. 5, p. 657.
Dictionnaire de la peinture suisse.
Museums
Musée d’Art et d’Histoire, Geneva
The British Museum, London
Swiss painter, lithographer and photographer, Albert Lugardon was renowned for his Alpine landscapes and animal paintings. Born in Rome, Italy, he was the son of Jean-Léonard Lugardon, a history painter, and moved to Geneva at an early age.

He received his first artistic training from his father before studying at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he came under the influence of Ary Scheffer.

Lugardon established his reputation through his Alpine landscapes, particularly his depictions of the Swiss Alps, and was awarded a prize in 1855 for his painting Pâturage (Pasture).

He also developed a strong interest in photography, exploring instantaneous photography and the representation of movement. In 1881, his photographic work earned him a medal from the Photographic Society of London. Despite his success, his use of photography as a preparatory tool for his paintings generated some controversy among fellow artists.

Alongside his artistic career, Lugardon played an active role in Geneva’s cultural life. He served on the committee of the Société des Amis des Beaux-Arts and on the Commission des Beaux-Arts. He exhibited widely, including at the Paris Expositions Universelles.

His works were highly regarded during his lifetime. Following his death, his own works and those of his father were sold at a posthumous auction for the benefit of the Geneva Cantonal Hospital.

Lugardon’s legacy endures through his serene landscapes and meticulous studies of animals and nature. His works are preserved in important public collections, including the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire in Geneva and the Kunstmuseum Bern.