Bureau account

 

 

Impressionism, a historical reconstruction:

Pierre-Isidore Bureau

(1822-1876)

Account

of his exhibited paintings

 

Introduction:
On this page you will an extended account of the paintings Pierre-Isidore Bureau exhibited at the 1st ‘impressionist’ exposition of 1874 and at the 2nd ‘impressionist’ exposition in 1876. You will also find a less extended account of the pictures he exhibited at the Salon and regional exhibitions. For the used sources see the main page on Pierre-Isidore Bureau. See link for his known pictures and for a topographical and thematical overview of the titles of his pictures.

 

The first ‘impressionist’ exposition 1874:

General overview:

  • catalogue numbers 33-35bis
  • so in total Bureau exhibited 4 works ;
    • 3x an indication of place
    • 2x an indication of time, season or weather
    • 0x a study
    • 0x a loan
  • Adhémar (R87,p233), Moffett (R2,p120), Berson (R90II,p20) and Patry/Robins (R410,p101+269) only give a suggestion for no.35, which Patry/Robins also mention as option for nol.35bis. This work is closely, but not fully described by Prouvaire (1874/04/20).
  • See link for his (exhibited) pictures.

Reviews:
E. Drumont (1874/04/18) mentioned a work of Bureau wrongly attributing it to Boudin: ‘Furthermore we mention … ; le Clocher de Jouy-le-Comte of Boudin (sic)’ (R90I,p21)
Marc de Montifaud (1874/05/01) reviewed ‘The marine painters could have won the game on their own, as the exhibitors intended.’ and then mentions him in an enumeration ‘…; Bureau, Bords de l’Oise (Isle-Adam); …’ (R90I,p30)
Le Père Siffleur (1874/04/26) reviewed ‘But there are also serieus works, worthy of attention. … ‘Le Clocher, of Jouy (sic) Le Comte of Boudin (sic)’ …, are realy remarquable paintings.’ This actually referred to ‘Le Clocher de Jouy-le-Comte’, no.33 of Bureau: (R90I,p38).
Jean Prouvaire (1874/04/20) gave explicit attention to 8 partakers, rendering there names bold. One of them was M. Pierre Bureau. He reviewed ”Mister Pierre Bureau lights up a pale moon in a dark sky; a road climbs up between strokes of green lawn, travelled on by small, black figures, maybe robbers, while in the distance the river flows to a bridge with a single bow, behind which a white light spreads out.’ (R90I,p35)
Bureau is also summed up in 5 reviews as one of the partakers by Burty (1874/04/16 + 25), d’Hervilly (1874/04/17), Drumont (1874/04/19) and in La Liberté (1874/04/20).
See the seperate pages on the reviews and on the art-critics.

Catalogue 1874 (R2,p120;R90I,p5;R87,p233;R88I,p84;R411):

1IE-1874-33, Le Clocher de Jouy-le-Comte
Eng.: the bell-tower of Jouy-le-Comte.
In the first edition of the 1874 catalogue it was priced 500fr (R411).
Berson refers to contemporary reviews (R90II,p6). Drumont (1874/04/19) mentions the work, but assigns it wrongly to Boudin (R90I,p21). Le Père siffleur (1874/04/26) is even less accurate. It mentions a work titled ‘Le clocher’ and assigns it to ‘Jouy’ and a work titled ‘Le Comte’ and assigns it to Boudin (R90I,p38).
I could not find a painting of Bureau that comes near.
Jouy-le-Comte now is part of Parmain and lies north of L’Isle-Adam, see map.
The bell-tower probably belonged to the church Saint-Denis de Jouy-le-Comte (see website monumentum =iR447).
To compare I render a photo of this bell-tower.
Note: Victor Vignon often painted here, he also depicted the church of de Jouy-le-Comte. A detail of this painting I will also render to compare.
L. Ottin (probably Léon Ottin) made an aquarelle of the interior of the church.

1IE-1874-34, Près de l’étang de Jouy-le-Comte
Eng.: near the lake of Jouy-le-Comte.
In the first edition of the 1874 catalogue it was priced 300fr (R411).
There were no reviews on this work (R90II,p6).
I could not find an exact location.
See to compare: 18xx, Plage de Dieppe, xx, CM Dieppe (iR6; iR23; aR1).
See to compare also: Théodore Rousseau (1812-67): 18xx, Chaumière près de l’étang, on wood, 21x30cm, Md Valence (Musée de Valence).

1IE-1874-35, Bords de l’Oise, Isle-Adam, clair-de-lune
Eng.: banks of the Oise, Isle-Adam, moonlight.
In the first edition of the 1874 catalogue it was priced 290fr (R411).
Adhémar, Moffett, Berson an Patry/Robbins all suggest: 1867, Sbl, Moonlight on the Banks of the Oise near L’Isle-Adam, 33 x 41, Orsay (->MLS Isle-Adam) (iR20;aR1;iR23;R3,p55;R87,p233;R2,p120;R90II,p20+6;R410,p101+269;R89,no19;R3,p55;M1,RF2170;M179)
=S1867-240, Clair de lune, sur les bords de l’Oise, à l’Isle-Adam.
Monneret suggests this work was exhibited as no.35bis (R88I,p84). Patry/Robbins affirm this as second option.
De Montifaud (1874/05/01) mentions this work (leaving out the ‘clair-de-lune’ and sums up Bureau as one of the marine painters (R87,p267;R90I,p30).
Probably also described by Prouvaire (1874/04/20), but he does not explicitly refer to this number, so it also could be no.35bis: ‘Mister Pierre Bureau lights up a pale moon in a dark sky; a road climbs up between strokes of green lawn, travelled on by small, black figures, maybe robbers, while in the distance the river flows to a bridge with a single bow, behind which a white light spreads out.’ (R87,p259;R90I,p35). His description doesn’t fully apply to the Orsay painting; the lawn isn’t painted green and the cited parts in orange don’t fully apply either. Still, this painting is the best option for no.35. As the Orsay painting depicts a river and the no.35 title refers to the Oise, I suggest this work for no.35 and not for no.35bis, which has a more general title.

1IE-1874-35bis, Clair-de-lune
Eng.: Moonlight.
In the first edition of the 1874 catalogue it was priced 200fr (R411).
Compare no.35.
There is a review of Prouvaire that probably applies to no.35, but also could apply to no.35bis. For the rest there were mentions of this work (R90II,p6).
Monneret suggests a work that is now in Musée d’Orsay (R88I,p84), which probably is the same as others suggest for no.35.
Other sources also see the Oray painting as an option for 35bis (R410,p131+269).
I reserve the Orsay painting for no.35.
For no.35bis I render as very uncertain option: 18xx, Sbl, The road at nightfall (La route, à la tombée de la nuit), op, 32×40, A2022/02/04 (aR12;iR10). This painting doesn’t depict the full moon, but it renders (probably) a sky illuminated by the light of the moon. (But, maybe it is more a twilight sky.)

 

The second ‘impressionist’ exposition 1876:

General overview:

  • catalogue numbers: 9-16
  • so he exhibited 8 works
    • 7x an indication of place
    • 2x an indication of time, season or weather
    • 0x a study
    • 0x were loans
  • Moffett doesn’t render suggestions for the works he exhibited (R2,p161), nor does Berson (R90II,p33).
  • See link for his (exhibited) pictures.

Catalogue 1876 (R2,p161;R90I,p48;R88I,p84/5):

2IE-1876-9, Route de Champagne, près l’Isle-Adam
Eng.: a road in Champagne, near l’Isle-Adam.
Almost the same title as S1874-284, Route de Champagne, près de l’Isle-Adam (Seine-et-Oise).
A very uncertain option is: 18xx, SDbr (Pierre Bureau 82??) Hilly Road (chemin montant), 26×41, MUDO Beauvais (iR2;iR127;aR3;iR1;R2,p161;M171).

2IE-1876-10, Jouy-le-Comte, clair de lune
Eng.: Jouy-le-comte, moonlight.
Compare: S1872-234, Clair de lune, à Jouy-le-Comte (Seine-et-Oise)
Bureau often exhibited moonlight landscapes, see overview.
A very uncertain option is: 18xx, The Road, 89×116, Orsay or MLS Isle-Adam (iR2;iR23;aR1;R2,p161). This painting doesn’t depict the full moon, but it renders (probably) a sky illuminated by the light of the moon. (But, maybe it is more a twilight sky.)  

2IE-1876-11, Château de Valmondois
Eng.: Valmondois lies south-west of L’Isle-Adam. There are several castles in the surroundings, see map. Likely is a castle that has been disappeared and the was located at what now is Frm du Vieux Château (iR9; see also). Maybe this is called the Vieille Château as on an old postcard (iR431). There also is a Château et parc d’Orgivaux (iR4; iR3); located at what is called Ancien Moulin d’Orgivaux (iR9; see also). The castle was enhanced in the early 20th century (see PDF); see an old postcard showing the former appearance (iR431).
I could not find a painting of Bureau showing an important building looking like a castle. I neither could find a picture of this castle done by other artists, so to compare I render the two mentioned postcards.

2IE-1876-12, Entrée de village à Champagne, près l’Isle-Adam
Eng.: entrance of a village at Champagne, near L’Isle-Adam.
Compare: S1869-358, Entrée de village
2IE-1876-14, Entrée de Nesles.
As a very uncertain suggestion I render: 18xx, Rural path with figures, 72×114, A2018/03/17 (iR11; iR2; iR41).
Note: the suggestion given for no.14 is interchangeable.

2IE-1876-13, Meules au clair de lune
Eng.: haystacks in the moonlight.
Berson refers to a review in L’Audience (1876/04/09) that mentions the title as one of the works ’that require special attention’ (R90I,p53).
Bureau often exhibited moonlight landscapes, see overview.
I could not find a painting of Bureau rendering haystacks in the moonlight.
To compare I render a painting of another artist rendering haystacks in the moonlight:
Dwight William Tryon (1849-1925): Newbury Haystacks in Moonlight, 64×76, A2006/05/24 (iR11;iR13;iR10)
And also the moonlight painting from the Musée d’Orsay: 1867, Sbl, Moonlight on the Banks of the Oise near L’Isle-Adam, 33 x 41, Orsay (->MLS Isle-Adam) (HW;iR20;aR1;iR23;R3,p55;R87,p233;R2,p120;R90II,p20+6;R410,p101+269;R89,no19;R3,p55;M1,RF2170;M179)

2IE-1876-14, Entrée de Nesles
Eng.: entrance of Nesles. Nesles-la-Vallée lies west of L’Isle-Adam.
On a website of Nesles-la-Vallée there is referred to Bureau painting there; Vignon also painted there, see.
Compare: S1869-358, Entrée de village
2IE-1876-12, Entrée de village à Champagne, près l’Isle-Adam
As a very uncertain options I render: 18??, Sbl, Unknown title (A road at the entrance of a village), xx, private (iR10;iR20;R2,p161)
Note: the suggestion given for no.12 is interchangeable.

2IE-1876-15, Avoines dans la plaine de Champagne
Eng.: Oats in the Champagne plain. Probably a grain field with oats.
Berson refers to a review in L’Audience (1876/04/09) that mentions the title as one of the works ’that require special attention’ (R90I,p53).
I could not find a picture of Bureau depicting a grain field (with oats). So to compare I render paintings of another artists who do so:
Fernand Quignon (1854-1941): 1892ca, Avoines en fleur (oats in bloom), 163×257, Orsay (M1; iR10) +
Charles-François Daubigny (1817-1878): 1851, Moisson, 135×196, Orsay (M1; iR23; iR10).

2IE-1876-16, Usine à Pacy-sur-Eure
Eng.: factory at Pacy-sur-Eure. Pacy-sur-Eure lies about 82km west of Paris and south-west of Giverny and north of Evreux.
Note: this is one of the few works that wasn’t made in the surroundings of L’Isle-Adam.
I could not find one picture of Bureau depicting factories, nor made in Pacy-sur-Eure.
I hardly could find a painting made in Pacy-sur-Eure. I render one probably made early 1900s: A. Coignard: 19xx, Pacy-sur-Eure (iR448).
To compare I also render a painting of Camille Pissarro rendering factories: 

 

 

Pierre-Isidore Bureau at the Salon:
My main source is the Salon database of Musée d’Orsay (iR1).
Note: In 1875 + 1877 and later years there was a veuve Louise Bureau, a sculpture, who also exhibited at the Salon.

Overview:

  • In total Pierre-Isidore Bureau exhibited 14 works at the Salon.
    • 11 an indication of place
    • 4 an indication of time, season or weather
    • 0x a study
    • 0x were loans
  • See link for his (exhibited) pictures.

S1865-336, Chaumières à Butry
Eng.: Thatched cottages in Butry. Note: the same title as S1866-292. Butry-sur-Oise lies south of L’Isle-Adam. I could not find a suggestion.

S1866-292, Chaumière à Butry
Eng.: Thatched cottages in Butry. Note: the same title as S1865-336.

S1866-293, Chemin d’une carrière à Parmain
Eng.: road of a quarry at Parmain. Parmain lies just west of L’Isle-Adam, see map. I could not find a suggestion.

S1867-240, Clair de lune, sur les bords de l’Oise, à l’Isle-Adam
Eng.: moonlight on the banks of the Oise at Isle-Adam.
Now: 1867, Moonlight on the Banks of the Oise near L’Isle-Adam, 33 x 41, Orsay (MLS Isle-Adam) (iR20;aR1;R3,p55;R2,p120;M1,RF2170;M179).
See also catalogue sommaire illustré des peintures A-L, Musée d’Orsay.
Note: this work is also suggested for 1IE-1874-35, Bords de l’Oise, Isle-Adam, clair-de-lune.

S1868-379, Souvenir de Rotterdam
(iR1;R88). Eng.: Remembrance of Rotterdam. Rotterdam is a big harbour town in Holland. Pothey renders an etch and writes ‘The site is picturesque and the execution retains the qualities found in the study of nature.’ (R265,no9=iR40)

S1868-380, Hiver
Eng.: winter. = 1868, SDbl, Winter (landscape), 74×103, A2023/10/12 (iR421;iR85;iR64;iR10;iR11;iR1;R265,no8=iR40)
Pothey renders an etch and writes is has a ‘very real sentiment’, describing ‘The sky is heavy, the weather showery, the air is thin, and the melting snow has soaked the ground.’ (R265,no8=iR40).
Monneret wrongly writes Bureau exhibited this work in 1869.

S1869-358, Entrée de village
Eng.: entrance of a village.
Compare: 2IE-1876-12, Entrée de village à Champagne, près l’Isle-Adam +
2IE-1876-14, Entrée de Nesles.

S1870-416, Canal à Zandam; moulin en construction
Eng.: Canal in Zandam; mill under construction. Zaandam lies in Holland, north of Amsterdam. I could not find a suggestion.
Note 1: S1868-379 was also a picture made in Holland. Note2: Monet later in 1870+71 also painted in Zaandam, but he didn’t paint a mill under construction. Wildenstein doesn’t mention Bureau at all (R22I). Still in 1927/05/20 there was a sale of a collection of Paul Bureau containing a work of Monet made around 1867/8 (R22,CR105). It is unclear if this Paul Bureau is related to Pierre-Isidore.

S1870-417, Vue prise aux environs d’Arras; clair de lune
(iR1;R88) Eng.: View taken in the surroundings of Arras; moonlight. Arras lies about 180km north of Paris. Note: this is one of the few works Bureau didn’t made in the surroundings of L’Isle-Adam. Compare: S1872-234 + 2IE-1876-10. An uncertain option is: 18xx, The Road, 89×116, Orsay or MLS Isle-Adam (iR2; iR23; aR1;R2,p161)

S1872-234, Clair de lune, à Jouy-le-Comte (Seine-et-Oise)
Eng.: Moonlight at Jouy-le-Comte (Seine-et-Oise district). Almost the same title as 2IE-1876-10. Compare also S1870-417. An uncertain option is: 18xx, The Road, 89×116, Orsay or MLS Isle-Adam (iR2; iR23; aR1;R2,p161)

SdR-1873-218, Après la moisson
Eng.: After the harvest. (iR1;R88). I could not find a suggestion.

SdR-1873-219, Malakoff (campagne près l’Isle-Adam)
Eng.: Malakoff (countryside near L’Isle-Adam). It is unclear to me what Malakoff means. It seems a place / a spot near L’Isle-Adam. (iR1;R88). Note: campagne could be a writting error for Champagne. I could not find a suggestion.

S1874-284, Route de Champagne, près de l’Isle-Adam (Seine-et-Oise)
(iR1;R88) Eng.: a road in Champagne, near L’Isle-Adam (Seine-et-Oise district).
Almost the same title as: 2IE-1876-9, Route de Champagne, près l’Isle-Adam.
An uncertain option is: 18xx, Hilly Road (chemin montant), 26×41, MUDO Beauvais (iR2; iR23; aR3).

S1876-314, Le coteau de Champagne, près de l’Isle-Adam (Seine-et-Oise)
Eng.: The Champagne hillside, near Isle-Adam (Seine-et-Oise). Compare S1874-284. I could not find a suggestion.

 

Regional exhibitions:
Pierre-Isidore Bureau sometimes exhibited at regional exhibitions (R248/iR40;iR1).

Lille-1866-227 — Chaumière à Butry.
Lille-1866-228 — Chemin d’une carrière à Parmain.

Besançon-1870-68, Environs de l’Isle-Adam, effet de neige.

 

Titles at more recent auctions:

18xx, Forêt près de l’Isle-Adam, 46×56, A1994/06/19 (iR13)

18xx, Paysage de la Marne, on board, 50×64, A1990/05/20 (iR13)

18xx, Vue du Pont de Chennevières, 61×81, A1990/05/20 (iR13)

 

Recommanded citation: “Impressionism: Pierre-Isidore Bureau, an account of his exhibited works. Last modified 2024/07/27.  https://www.impressionism.nl/bureau-account/.”