Victor Charreton  (French, 1864-1937) 

Victor Charreton (French, 1864–1937), born in the region of Isere, is considered part of the School of Paris, and like many of his contemporaries there, his work is often dedicated to landscape painting and influenced by the Impressionists. His oil paintings and pastels frequently feature shades of blue and gold in winter landscapes, and explosions of vibrant color in summer scenes. They follow the cycle of seasons in deft, cumulative brushstrokes and gestures that particularly master contrasts and zones of light and darkness. Charreton had a preference for the winter landscapes of the Auvergne region, but he also traveled to the South of France and Bretagne, as well as North Africa. Until 1902, Charreton divided his time between his legal practice based in Lyon, but afterwards fully dedicated himself to his work as a painter. He also drew cartoons, and studied the pigments of oil paintings so that they could better retain their color and intensity. He founded the Ecole de Murol with Léon Boudal, and attracted painters in the Neo-Impressionist style from around the world. Charreton was also a founder, with Pierre Bonnard (French, 1867-1947), of the Salon d’Automne, which exhibited works by major artists in the years since its founding. The Musée Victor Charreton, founded seven years before his death, is situated near Lyon, France, and hosts a collection of antique textiles. Charreton exhibited in the Salon of Paris throughout his life, and was the recipient of the Légion d'Honneur. In 1972, the Musée de Montmartre in Paris organized a major retrospective. His work is in the collections of the Brooklyn Museum in New York, The Musée d’Orsay in Paris, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and many major private collections.