(French, 1804-1889)

Riders on Horseback, circa 1850, unsigned, oil on canvas, 16 x 21 in.; reproduction gilt wood and composition frame, 20 x 25-1/4 in.

Provenance: Kennedy Galleries, New York, NY (label verso); Brunk Auctions, Asheville, North Carolina, January 26, 2019, lot 1096, sold for $1,500; Virginia Private Collection

Note: Victor de Grailly was a French landscape painter trained under neoclassical master Jean-Victor Bertin. He exhibited at the Paris Salon for nearly fifty years, earning recognition and medals in 1840 and 1844. Though rooted in neoclassicism, his style evolved toward Romanticism, known for its vivid color contrasts and dramatic skies. De Grailly gained acclaim for his idealized American landscapes-such as views of the Hudson River Valley, Niagara Falls, and Mount Vernon-despite no documented travel to the U.S. Drawing inspiration from travel literature and engravings, he successfully exhibited his work in major American cities between 1845 and 1858. Today, his paintings are held in major U.S. institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the White House, and several prominent regional museums, as well as collections in France.