Fernand Toussaint

Fernand Toussaint: the celebrated Belgian painter of still lifes and figurative subjects, was born in Brussels 1873. At the age of fifteen he entered the Academy of Fine Arts of his native city where he studied under Jean Portaels, an innovative and demanding teacher who attached prime importance to the art of drawing. Thus Toussaint received thorough formal academic training before leaving for Paris in 1891 where he completed his studies. There he met the great Alfred Stevens, who was then at the height of his artistic popularity, and with Stevens' guidance, Toussaint formulated his own individual style, combining elegance and fine draughtsmanship with a free impressionistic handling of paint. He exhibited widely at most of the major venues in Brussels, and at the Salon des Artistes Francais in Paris, where he received a medal in 1901 and a gold medal in 1929. Hi gold medal winning exhibit that year was featured in the influential Parisian magazine " L' illustration". In 1929, art critic Mario de Marchi wrote of Toussaint "Le maitre incontesté de la grâce et du charme de la femme' , which translates to "Toussaint is the undisputed master at capturing the grace and charm of women" Fernand Toussaint passed away in 1955.

Fernand Toussaint is a prolific and successful painter, Toussaint was a luminary in Belgian painting during the early 20th century. Amongst his many works, Toussaint painted landscapes, genre scenes, portraits, interiors, and still lifes. He was also a talented draftsman, engraver, and watercolor painter. Marion Marchi asserts that Toussaint “remains the uncontested master of the grace and charm of women.” Toussaint studied under Jean-Francois Portaels at the Academie des Beaux-Arts in his native town of Brussels. He later exhibited with the Salon des Artistes Francais de Paris, winning a third-class medal in 1901.