The son of painter and enameler Claudius Popelin, Gustave Popelin received early guidance from the French academic painter Ernest Hébert. He entered the École des Beaux-Arts in 1879, working in the studios of Gabriel Ferrier and Eugène Giraud. In 1882, he won the Prix de Rome with Mattathias refusant de sacrifier aux idoles (Mattathias Refusing to Sacrifice to Idols), an artwork that depicts a pre-Christian era Jewish priest whose actions set off the Maccabean revolt.
From 1880 to 1911, Popelin took part in the Salon des Artistes Français, where he exhibited portraits and historical paintings. Also a photographer, Popelin has a huge collection of photographs preserved at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.
Perhaps his photographic eye is responsible for the bold angle chosen for the three- quarter back portrait in ECKART ASIA’s collection. Similar to a snapshot, the sitter seems captured rather than posed, as if this were all done without her knowledge.
Popelin’s pastel virtuosity lends a softness and velvety texture to this ‘hyper-realistic’ image.
