The historic Fontaine du Palmier on the bustling Place du Châtelet is the subject of this winter scene by the celebrated Edouard Léon Cortès. Brilliantly rendered to express the romance and charm of old Paris, the oil on canvas is brought to life by Cortès' broad, enthusiastic brushstrokes and luminous palette. The artist perfectly evokes the vitality of the city at dusk, bringing the spectacle de la rue to life on canvas.

Raised in a prolific artistic environment, Cortès was an avid student of his father, French painter Antonio Cortès, and his older brother, Andre. He also benefited from the influence of Maximilian Luce, Camille Pissaro and Lucien Pissaro, among other Impressionist artists, who were close friends of the family and flocked to Lagny-sur-Marne for its picturesque landscapes. At seventeen, he continued his studies at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris and soon after earned fame when he contributed a dramatic Parisian street scene at dusk to the Socíeté des Artistes Française.

From that point onwards, Cortès dedicated his extensive oeuvre to capturing the magic of Paris on canvas. Though he painted the same streets time and time again, each work is unique in its narrative and perspective, each mindful of the changes brought by both the seasons and progress, yet each enchantingly nostalgic. Throughout his life, his depictions of a captivating Paris were in high demand, and they remain a favorite of collectors and art aficionados today.