The Red Parasol, Oil on canvas by Edgard de St-Pierre De Montzaigle (1867–1930)

With The Red Parasol, Edgard de St-Pierre De Montzaigle delivers a work that immediately captivates both visually and emotionally. The young woman, deep in thought, is sheltered under a bright red parasol suspended like a theatrical veil over the composition. The brightness of the parasol's canvas contrasts sharply with the soft spring greens and delicate skin tones, irresistibly drawing the eye to the center of the scene. This painting thus becomes a true focal point—an eye-catcher par excellence.

Technically, the artist demonstrates a skilled observer's eye: the free but assured brushstroke, the refined shadows, and the careful modeling of the face testify to solid training. Although the work is not extremely virtuosic, it expresses a sincere sensitivity and pictorial mastery characteristic of the best artists of the Belgian Belle Époque. The composition is clear and balanced, and the combination of portrait and landscape reveals a developed sense of harmony.

Thematically, the work falls within the genre of the portrait of a female idyll, as practiced by Alfred Stevens or a young Boldini—but with a calmer, more introspective tone. The artist's work is relatively rare on the market and underrepresented in museum collections, which gives this painting the status of a singular discovery rather than an icon in an established body of work (O = C). Its presence in the collection of Berko Fine Art, a leading figure in the international art circuit, nevertheless testifies to the aesthetic and commercial recognition of his work.

What makes this painting even more remarkable is its original frame. This richly gilded wooden frame in the neo-Louis XV style, with its pronounced rocaille corners, floral details, and delicate beading, frames the scene with an opulence that perfectly accentuates the work's graceful atmosphere. The warm golden tones subtly reflect the light on the canvas, enhancing the softness of the face, the flowerbed in the foreground, and the vibrant red of the parasol. Here, the frame and the painting form a coherent visual whole which enhances the elegance of the composition in a decorative and refined whole.

Ref: V2U9K2UV36