F J E Gueldry

(1858 – 1945)

Ferdinand Joseph Gueldry was born in Paris on the 21st May 1858.  He was a pupil of the extremely well known painter J L Gérome (1824 - 1904). Gérome was a Master of importance during his lifetime and of great reputation throughout Europe, known especially for his treatment of the human form, and the colours and textures of skintones.  His Egyption bathing subjects were very highly regarded, and indeed are to this day.

Ferdinand Gueldry was fond of French subject matter.  He first painted in the French Salon in 1878 and he spent his career painting and reproducing the lives and atmosphere of the people around him during his lifetime.  He painted travelling people, factory workers, working and trades people and on occasion the fashionably dressed people in and around Paris.  He painted new sporting subjects like “Rowers by the River Marne” and he loved to paint river scenes, stream subjects and quiet reflective paintings with subtle colours.  His boating and river scenes are amongst his most famous works.

He won a Third Class Medal at the Salon in 1885 and he exhibited at the Universal Exhibition in 1900 and he was awarded the Legion d’Honneur in 1900.  He continued to exhibit in the Salon in Paris until 1933.