Paul deLongpre (1855-1911) American/French, Watercolor. Titled "Orchids." A large museum quality watercolor signed and dated in 1898, DeLongpre is considered one of America's most important painters of flowers. His delicate touch, feeling for color and knowledge of flowers resulted in the creation of exquisite watercolors. Provenance: Private Collection, California.

Overall size: 22 X 31 in.

Sight size: 15 1/4 X 24 1/4 in.

#8003 .

Born in Lyon, France, Paul deLongpre was a member of an aristocratic family, but their lack of wealth and influence permitted him to spend more time in the fields observing the work of the many flower painters drawn to the area. At 21 he was accepted to the Paris Salon and studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts with Jean Leon Gerome and Leon Bonnat, receiving a successful exhibition at the American Art Galleries within a year. He moved his family to New York City in 1890, where he worked in commercial illustration as a window decorator. After attending the 1893 Chicago Exposition, he was invited to exhibit throughout the country, eventually relocating his family in 1899 to Los Angeles to become the first major still-life painter in the city. Building a Moorish mansion surrounded by lush gardens, his artwork, accent, and lifestyle made him a local celebrity; deLongpre Avenue, parallel to Sunset Boulevard, is named after him. He died at the age of 56, apparently from overwork. To this day Paul deLongpre is considered one of America's most important painters of flowers. His delicate touch, feeling for color, and encyclopedic knowledge of angiosperms resulted in the creation of exquisite watercolors, and this piece is a prime example of his style.