Artwork
La mare aux Fées in Fontainebleau
La mare aux Fées in Fontainebleau is an oil painting by the Barbizon school artist Alphonse Asselbergs. It dates from 1888 and is held in the collection of the Groeningemuseum.
About this work
Overview
Alphonse Asselbergs painted La mare aux Fées in Fontainebleau in 1888 using oil on canvas. The work presents a tranquil marsh scene within the forest of Fontainebleau, featuring a small boat, a lone cloud, and the surrounding woodland. It is part of the collection of the Groeningemuseum.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures a quiet wetland with shallow water edged by tangled vegetation. Bare trees rise in the distance, their branches extending into a pale sky brushed with soft white clouds. Low‑flying birds add a sense of gentle movement, emphasizing the stillness of the moment.
Technique & Style
Asselbergs employs a restrained palette, allowing subtle shifts from greens to browns to convey the marsh’s muted tones. Light is rendered delicately, avoiding strong contrasts; instead, the painting relies on soft illumination and gradual tonal transitions to create a serene atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Created in the late nineteenth century, the painting reflects Asselbergs’ interest in the natural scenery of the Fontainebleau region. It entered the Groeningemuseum’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains on display as an example of French landscape painting of the period.
Artist & collection
