Artist of the Day, June 5, 2023: Alfred Émile Léopold Stevens, a Belgian painter (#1819)

 Born Alfred Émile Leopold Joseph Victor Stevens, Alfred  Stevens (1823 – 1906) was a Belgian painter, known for his paintings of elegant modern women. In their realistic style and careful finish, his works reveal the influence of 17th-century Dutch genre painting. After gaining attention early in his career with a social realist painting depicting the plight of poor vagrants, he achieved great critical and popular success with his scenes of upper-middle class Parisian life. He tended to use the same models over and over again, and not all of them were aristocratic. "At least three of his frequent models can be identified in the infamous Book of the Courtesans, a top secret leather bound book containing the surveillance files of the Paris vice squad," writes author Summer Brennan.

Alfred Stevens had an artistic career that many would be envious off.  His circle of friends and patrons and his far ranging influence established him as one of the more important painters of his time. Stevens’ artistic studies began in Brussels under the guidance of François Navez.  In Paris he studied under Camille Joseph Roqueplan.  His first canvases date from 1848.  Stevens’ year of absolute triumph came in 1867.  Just forty-four years old, he had eighteen paintings entered in the Universal Exposition which won him a First Class Medal.  

In 1874 King Leopold of Belgium commissioned Stevens to paint a set of works illustrating the four seasons. This set remains in the Royal Collection.

Stevens’ paintings were avidly collected by the most prominent individuals of the latter part of the 19th century: Walters, Havemeyer, Stewart, Belmont and Vanderbilt. American Impressionist William Merritt Chase owned no fewer than twelve of Stevens’ paintings.

© 2023. All content on this blog is protected by international copyright laws All images are copyrighted © by Alfred  Stevens or assignee. Apart from fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, the use of any image from this site is prohibited unless prior written permission is obtained. All images used for illustrative purposes only

Alfred  Stevens

Self-Portrait at the Age of 14, 1832

An Artist in his Studio, circa 1840-42

Elegant Figures in a Salon, circa 1845

King Alfred and his Mother, circa 1848

Mrs Elizabeth Young Mitchell and her Baby, circa 1851

 Mary Ann, Wife of Leonard Collman, circa 1854

What is Called Vagrancy or, The Hunters of Vincennes, circa 1854

Departing for the Promenade (Will You Go Out with Me, Fido?), circa 1859

Lady at a Window Feeding Birds, circa 1859

Pleasant Letter, circa 1860-67

Palm Sunday, circa 1862

News from Afar, circa 1865

Young Woman in White Holding a Bouquet, circa 1865-75

A Duchess (The Blue Dress), circa 1866

Hesitation, circa 1867 (Madame Monteaux?)

The Psyché (My Studio), circa 1871

Meditation, circa 1872

The Japanese Robe, circa 1872

The Bath, circa 1873

After the Ball, circa 1874

Memories and Regrets, circa 1874

 Standing Figure of a Woman, circa 1876

The Japanese Mask, circa 1877

Yamatori, circa 1878

In Deep Thought, circa 1881

Portrait of Mademoiselle Dubois, circa 1884

Mother and Children, circa 1887

Portrait of Mrs. Howe, circa 1900

Elegant at Billiards, circa 1906

Portrait of an Artist in Her Studio

Symphonie en vert (Symphony in green)

The letter