Ferdinand du Puigaudeau
1864-1930 | French

Le Manège de nuit et fête foraine
(The Night Merry-Go-Round and Fair)

Signed (center left)
Oil on canvas

A spirited evening carnival is the subject of this enchanting oil on canvas by French Impressionist Ferdinand du Puigaudeau. In this painting, revelers wander the fairgrounds, swing on swings and ride a lively carousel. The excitement and energy are almost palpable. Du Puigadeau’s treatment of light in this composition is exquisite. The eye is automatically drawn to the carousel’s glow while the sunset above creates a complementary illumination, and pinpricks of light above the carousel appear almost like fireworks. Du Puigaudeau’s attention to detail is equally impressive. Women in the foreground are dressed in traditional attire, while the boys wear round hats. Their expressions are curious, looking at other attendees and attractions, trying to decide where to go next. This beautiful painting lends itself to the invention of multiple narratives; so many stories are depicted within this one scene.

Known for vibrant depictions of country fairs, fireworks, and sunsets, as exemplified in this work, du Puigaudeau merged elements of Symbolism and Neo-Impressionism with traditional Impressionism, contributing a unique aesthetic to the movement. Born on April 4, 1864 in Nantes, France, he was largely self-taught before arriving at the famous artist colony of Pont-Aven in 1886, where he met Paul Gauguin. Through famed art dealer Paul Durand-Ruel, Edgar Degas obtained a du Puigaudeau painting, and Degas and du Puigaudeau would become good friends. During the early 1900s, the artist traveled to Venice where he produced a number of important canvases depicting myriad sights of the city. Today, his works are held in the collections of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid and the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Quimper in France, among others.

Circa 1890

Canvas: 25 3/5” high x 36 3/5” wide
Frame: 34 1/2” high x 44 9/10” wide