Painting
Although the collections of the musée de l'École de Nancy are essentially focused on the decorative arts, painting is no less prevalent. Especially since some of the decorative artists, such as Camille Martin and Victor Prouvé, were trained painters..
Among the artists present, Charles de Meixmoron de Dombasle belonged to the generation that preceded the École de Nancy movement. He introduced Impressionist painting to Nancy, inviting the Impressionists to exhibit at the city's Salon on three occasions between 1873 and 1888. A painter of landscapes, his work also borders on symbolism (Quatre heures du matin à Diénay or Effet de nuit).
Émile Friant's pictorial output consisted mainly of portraits of notables, genre scenes (Le Déjeuner des canotiers or Les Canotiers de la Meurthe – to be seen at the museum of fine arts) and rare landscapes. His work is part of the naturalist movement, with an instantaneous nature thanks to the use of the photographic process. Henri Royer, with his Prière à Saint-Tugen, followed in Friant’s steps.
Camille Martin was one of those young artists influenced by plein air painting. Indeed, his work is essentially characterised by landscapes (Kichompré) but also tends towards decoration (Le Soir), echoing his work in the decorative and the visual arts.
As for Victor Prouvé, his pictorial work is abundant, from easel painting to decoration. The museum holds a portrait of Émile Gallé, which has become one of the most famous representations of the leader of the École de Nancy. Victor Prouvé's travels in Tunisia (1889-1890) and their influence are recalled by Le Cavalier arabe. His work is sometimes influenced by the Symbolist movement, as in Vision d'automne. Finally, the ceiling piece Les Fruits illustrates his participation in the great Republican decor.
The museum also holds a number of works by Jacques Majorelle, Louis’s son, including Scène du Caire and Marg, Égyptiennes.