The artist was born at Lyons. The son of an ornamental craftsman, his early training was as an apprentice to a metal engraver, but at this time Vollon also began to paint. He studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Lyons from 1850 to 1853 under the engraver Victor Vibert (1799–1860), later working as a decorator of enamelled pans and stoves.

He moved to Paris in 1859 with the intention of becoming a painter. In Paris he began painting still life under the influence of the Realist painter Ribot. His first exhibition at the Paris Salon in 1864 immediately began to establish his reputation as a skilful still life painter. 

In this work Vollon limits his palette to brown, tan, red and blue. He uses abstract blocks of colour to illustrate the buildings rather than a detailed depiction of the scene.

Provenance: bequeathed by the Founders, 1885

Object description
Type: Easel painting
Location: Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham
Material: Oil on canvas
Artist: Antoine Vollon (1833–1900)
Date: c. 1860

Image Details
Date: 7 Feb 2025
Camera body: iPhone Xs
Lens: Wide Camera 26mm ƒ/1.8
Focal Length: 26mm
Aperture: ƒ/1.8
Shutter Speed: 1/33s
ISO: 400
Licensing: Image of a Bowes Museum asset. This image cannot be licensed.