Berne-Bellecour, Etienne Prosper

Editor’s Note:

The actual artist behind this work is in some doubt here at the Porkopolis Art Museum. No definitive or authoritative source could be found that cites E. Berne-Bellecour as the artist. The Askart.com & Arcadja.com sales and auction services list the artist as “Berne Dethcourt (19-20th cent.)” which could also be read as “Berne Delcourt.”

Also, this work is certainly in the impressionist style while most of E. Berne-Bellecour’s military subjects are exicuted in a precise realist style. The signature on this painting appears to say simply “Berne-Bellecour” and is written in a heavy and generic script. Much of Etienne Prosper Berne-Bellecour’s work is signed with a printed “E. Berne-Bellecour” in a light hand with elongated serifs on the letters b and r. See the image below for a comparison.

Signatures of two of E. Berne-Bellecour’s familiar works are compared to the painting on display for this exhibition in the image below:

1) Picket Guards (1891)
2) Low Road on the Coast of Normandy (1864)
3) La gardienne de cochon (ndg.)

So, we have a bit of a mystery at work, but this painting was considered too beautiful to be left out of the exhibition. The very idea of an exhibition focused on pig-themed art, let alone an entire museum on that subject, seems to foster controversy. But what is art without controversy? And this is a little bit more… If you have information to share on this work and it’s creator please use the contact form. I’d like to hear from you.