French Antique Landscape Oil Paintings

A 1949 Belgian oil painting on board, depicting the village of Barvaux-sur-Ourthe in the Ardennes from a high vantage point. The composition is centred on the village church and its surrounding streets, nestled among rolling hills, trees and fields, with a path and farm building in the foreground. Characterful details lend life to the landscape, from the architecture of the church spire to the functional forms of the farm buildings in the foreground.

A fresh palette of green, grey and orange combines the lush nature of the region with the characteristic architecture of brick, tile and slate roofs, rendered in broad brushwork that echoes the softness of the landscape.

Signed lower right, retaining its original giltwood frame, dated 1949 and located on the reverse. An evocative mid-century country landscape.

A midcentury gouache on paper by French painter Alfred Lop-Montel (1898-1971), depicting a Mediterranean landscape with large pine trees enclosed by a fence in the foreground, leading to a rocky hill beyond, beneath a bright blue sky. The composition is rendered in a vivid Mediterranean palette of dark green, ochre and blue, evoking the warmth of the light, the refreshing shade of the trees and the mineral tones of the landscape. Captivating brushwork lends the scene movement, with fine black lines animating the elongated branches of the trees, set in contrast to the broader, painterly passages of colour describing the hill and sky. Signed lower right, glazed under museum glass and presented in a giltwood frame.

An evocative Mediterranean landscape in bright colour.

A late 19th-century French oil painting on canvas, depicting a wind-swept rural landscape in the naturalistic tradition, with a tree at its centre, surrounded by fields extending to a distant ridge, and a low horizon emphasising a dramatic sky unfolding above

The foreground lies in shade, where rocks and a diagonal track draw the eye into the composition. To the right, a cart with figures adds a quiet narrative presence. The warm earthy palette of browns and greens, set against muted blue-grey skies, showcases confident tonal transitions and compelling modelling of the clouds. Highlights of white in the sky and along the distant ridge contrast with the shadowed foreground, adding movement to the scene.

An atmospheric landscape with a strong composition, presented in its original giltwood frame.

A late 19th-century oil painting on canvas by the French artist Amélie Parenteau (1835-1923). The composition depicts a ruined medieval castle flanked by towers and ramparts, set among trees and dense foliage along the bank of a river, with the architecture reflected in the water below.

The palette is vibrant and earthy, combining warm yellows and browns with greens, blues, and touches of white. Short, lively brushstrokes articulate the stonework of the castle, the movement of clouds and the texture of leaves through an emphasis on pattern, giving this calm rural scene a gently naive and evocative quality.

Signed ‘A. Parenteau’ in red in the lower left corner and presented in an antique Montparnasse frame. The location is inscribed on the reverse as La Salbart, Deux-Sèvres, most likely referring to the 13th-century fortress of Château de Coudray-Salbart in Poitou.

Amélie Parenteau worked from the late 19th to the early 20th century in a naturalistic landscape tradition, depicting rural paths, village views and rivers with a quiet, observational approach. Her work recalls the realism of the Barbizon school, tempered by looser, impressionist brushwork and vivid colours, viewed from a distinctly local perspective.

This early 20th-century pastel on paper by Walter Durac Barnett (1876–1961) depicts a tranquil country landscape, with a field bordered by wooden fences in the foreground, framed by tall trees and rolling hills in the distance. Executed on green paper, it features a distinctive palette of greens, whites, and blues — the pale tones of the field echoing the clouds above, while the blue hills dissolve into the sky.

Expressive pastel strokes lend movement to the trees and structure to the composition, creating a serene atmosphere evocative of a cool evening. Located lower left, and presented glazed under a green mount within a gilded wood frame. An evocative country scene in fresh, harmonious colours.

An early 20th-century oil on canvas by French artist Marcel Pottier (1908-1949), offering a striking close-up view of a pond. Broad waterlily leaves dominate the foreground, with delicate blooms floating across the surface and aquatic plants rising softly in the background. The scene is rendered in a rich, atmospheric palette of deep blues, verdant greens and contrasting violet tones, capturing the quiet depth of water and light. Signed and presented in a painted wooden frame of soft blue and gold. A captivating and immersive composition.

This early 20th-century pastel on paper by Walter Durac Barnett (1876–1961) depicts a rolling country landscape with a field in the foreground and woodland beyond. Executed on hay-coloured paper, it features a warm palette of greens, blues, and yellows that captures the atmosphere of a summer day. The varied shades of green convey the vibrancy of the foliage, while sinuous pastel strokes emphasise the outline of the hills and the gentle movement of the trees.

With a distinctive composition, the open field draws the eye toward the woods and distant hills, creating a sense of depth and calm. Located lower left, signed lower right, and presented glazed under a cream mount within a gilded wood frame. A serene and uplifting pastoral study with bright colour.

A 19th-century oil on board, depicting a tranquil lakeside scene with two figures sailing across calm waters. Buildings line the left shore, while mountains rise in the distance beneath a sky of drifting clouds. Painted in a serene palette of blues, sand, and ochre, the composition contrasts precise brushwork in the figures and architecture with a looser, more atmospheric treatment of the sky.

Presented in a boldly carved bare pine frame, with visible grain and rich texture. A restful, atmospheric work—a small scale with a striking decorative presence.

This 1930s oil painting on canvas by French artist and decorator Camille Roche (1894-1948) depicts a forest undergrowth, featuring a large tree covered in foliage, surrounded by slender trees and dense bushes. Its sumptuous palette of deep greens and reds contrasts with the softer yellows and pinks, capturing the rich variations of autumn colours. Painterly brushwork adds texture to the grass, foliage, and bushes, while the elongated shapes of the trees bring movement to the scene. Delicate lines are incised into the surface of the painting, introducing an additional layer of structure over hazy patches of colour. Roche employs a striking array of techniques to convey depth and texture, creating a poetic and immersive depiction of nature. Coming from the artist’s studio, this rare work is presented in a black and gold frame.

Camille Roche (1894-1948) was a French Art Deco artist and decorator renowned for his keen observations of nature and animals. A regular exhibitor at the Salon d’Automne, he created striking frescoes and painted decors for notable figures such as the writer Colette and Coco Chanel. In the 1930s, Roche frequently collaborated with his brother, renowned designer Serge Roche, contributing frescoes to various projects. His artistic range encompassed oil paintings, frescoes, screens, and glasswork, demonstrating his remarkable adaptability across different mediums

This atmospheric oil painting by Russian-Belgian artist Leonid Frechkop (1897–1982) presents a striking mountain landscape, painted in 1932. The cropped composition, revealing only the chalet roofs in the foreground, draws the eye toward the hazy peaks and the dramatic sky above. Expressionist brushstrokes lend texture to the grey and brown roofs, reflecting the sunlight filtering through the clouds, and contrasting with the soft greens and blues of the mountains. Distinctive details—from the chimneys and the shape of the roofs to the mysterious smoke in the mountains—introduce a subtle tension to this otherwise calm scene

Born in Moscow in 1897, Frechkop trained at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture and the Imperial Academy of Arts under prominent artists including Konstantin Korovin, Abram Arkhipov, and Nikolay Kasatkin. Fleeing Russia in 1921, he settled in Belgium in 1922, where he became associated with Belgian modernists including Paul Delvaux, and developed a distinctive style known for its portraits and landscapes. His work is held in several major European collections, including the Centre Pompidou, the Cabinet des Estampes, and the Musée d’Ixelles.

Dated 1932 and signed at the front, this rare example of Frechkop’s early work combines a modern composition and a thoughtful use of colour to create a compelling and atmospheric scene. It is presented in an elegant 1930s Montparnasse frame.

This early 20th-century oil painting on board by French artist Maurice-Georges Poncelet (1897-1978) depicts the patio in the artist’s garden located in the Parisian suburb of Chelles. A charming path, bordered by small red flowers, leads the viewer through abundant trees and lush bushes rendered in a harmonious camaïeu of greens. The architecture of a house, featuring typical French decorative brickwork in soft pink, is visible in the background, adding depth to the composition. Dynamic brushstrokes blend nature and architecture, adding movement to this serene scene. This vibrant artwork is signed and dated 1914 at the front, while the location noted at the back.