Albert Lebourg was born in Montfort-sur-Risle and received his first artistic training at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Rouen. Here he studied under Jean-Paul Laurens, and also studied under the architect Drouin at the Municipal School of Design. Lebourg eventually gave up on architecture, and was greatly influenced by the landscape painter Victor Delmarre. He would eventually become a great landscape painter, adhering to a more academic style early in his career and eventually finding Impressionism.

Throughout his life, Lebourg traveled often, to the Netherlands and England and especially to Algeria, working as he went. From 1872-1877, Lebourg served as a drawing professor at the Societe des Beaux-Arts in Algiers. Like so many other artists, Lebourg’s time in Algeria helped him to develop his use of light and he created many landscapes while he was there.

Upon his return to Paris, Lebourg became involved in Impressionism, and participated in Impressionist exhibits in 1879 and 1880. He became friends with Monet, Sisley and Degas, and continued to paint in the Impressionist style throughout the rest of his career.

Although he was almost exclusively a landscape painter, Lebourg incorporated themes in his paintings, such as the presence of water in his later works. Also, like his friend and fellow artist Monet, Lebourg would experiment with light and paint the same or similar landscapes in different shades and tones. He was particularly fond of painting the changing seasons, as well as sunrises and sunsets.

In 1883 and again in 1886, Lebourg held his exhibitions with the Salon of the Society of French Artists. He would also regularly show his work with the Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts from 1891 until 1914. Although Lebourg was by and large a landscape artist, he certainly produced a small number of still life, and perhaps even figure studies, and especially sketches and drawings as a student.

Even though he was an avid traveler, Lebourg preferred the Normandy region of France above all others, and eventually settled in Rouen. He continued to paint right up until 1921 when he suffered a stroke and was paralyzed as a result.

Today Lebourg’s work is housed all over the world, and perhaps even in your own home. Still wondering about an Impressionistic landscape hanging in your home? It may be by Albert Lebourg…contact us to find out.