Un repas à deux

Victor Gabriel Gilbert, a French painter born on February 13, 1847, in Paris, emerged from humble beginnings to become a celebrated figure in the art world. Despite a frail childhood that precluded him from following his father's trade as a carpenter for Pleyel and Wolf, Gilbert's artistic talents flourished. Apprenticed to Eugène Adam, a painter and decorator, in 1860, he honed his skills by attending evening art classes under the guidance of Père Levasseur at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Gilbert's early works, primarily still lifes, debuted at the Salon des artistes français, marking the beginning of a prolific career. By the mid-1870s, Gilbert's trajectory was significantly influenced by the patronage of Père Martin, a pivotal figure in the Parisian art scene known for supporting artists like Boudin and Jongkind. This support enabled Gilbert to transition from decorative painting to more ambitious projects. His shift towards naturalism in the late 1870s saw him capturing the vibrancy of Parisian life, with scenes from streets, cafés, and markets, particularly the Halles, earning him acclaim. Gilbert's achievements were recognized with awards at the Salon and the 1889 Exposition Universelle, cementing his reputation. His association with the Société des artistes français in 1914 and the popularity of his works, reproduced by Goupil & Cie, underscored his enduring legacy until his death in Paris on July 21, 1935.