artist
Lucien de Scevola studied at the atelier Cormon and exhibited first with the Artistes Francais and then became a member of the Société National des Beaux-Arts where he achieved significant recognition every year over a period of years. He had a brilliant career as a portraitist of members of society such as the duchesse d'Uzes, the duchesse de Brissac and the duc de Massa to name a few. In 1914 he was made an officer of the Legion d'Honneur.
Description
In any work by Lucien de Scevola, whether it is a portrait, street scene or floral, there is a definitive sense of the beauty and elegance of Paris during the turn of the century, and one could easily classify him as a Belle Époque artist. Making his living primarily as a portrait artist, it is not a surprise that Scevola's still-lifes have the feel of a "flower portrait". He created his "flower portraits" in both pastels, as seen in this example, and in oils. Typically the arrangement is centered in the composition and the flowers are naturally displayed in a single vase. The backgrounds of these pictures are usually sparse, which also allows the flowers to be the center of attention.