A lovely three quarter length portrait of a young woman with a coral necklace by Pierre Louis Joseph De Coninck. The sitter wears a traditional Italian outfit (possibly Sicilian) and headdress held in place by a coral tipped pin. Around her neck can be seen a matching three stringed coral necklace and cross. The woman has been depicted staring out at the viewer with her hands up to her ear, as if attaching an unseen earring. Behind her can be seen a woodland with a view of a church beyond. Coral was highly valued as a status symbol during the 19th century and was also said to ward off evil spirits.

Pierre Louis Joseph De Coninck was born in Méteren, Northern France on the 22 November, 1828 to Augustin De Coninck and Lucie Rosalie Thooris. Although he showed a talent for art from an early age, he was initially apprenticed to Francois Delahaye a house and furniture decorator in Bailleul where he learnt how to mix oil paints and paint furniture. His work brought him to the notice Mr Leurs, mayor of Méteren, who helped him gain entry to Ypres and Lille schools of Art. In 1850, he went to Paris to study at the studio of Leon Cogniet (1794-1880) and in 1851 won a place at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts.

Influenced by Cogniet, De Coninck began specialising in genre and historical scenes often with young women. He made his debut at the Paris Salon in 1857, continuing to exhibit there throughout his life. He won a number of prizes including 2nd prize at the Prix de Rome in 1855 and 3rd prize in 1852, 1853 and 1856. In 1858, he won the Academy’s Prix Gravure which enabled him to visit to Rome on a painting excursion for 2 years. His sponsorship allowed him to travel around visiting areas of interest including Naples where he was accompanied by the composer Bizet. Inspired by what he saw, he began producing genre scenes featuring Italian women for which he became known for.

On his return to Paris, he continued to work and exhibit. He exhibited at the 1864 Exhibition held at the Palais des Champs-Elysées in Paris and also won medals at the Paris Salon in 1866 & 1868. He married Ernestine Marie Couvrit on 23 June, 1873. Their daughter Regina De Conick also became an artist. At some point during the 1880’s, De Coninck moved back to Méteren where he kept a studio. He died at Méteren on 5 July, 1910.

Examples of his work can be found in galleries and museums including Smithsonian American Art Museum, Dunkirk Museum, Metropolitan Museum, New York, Lille Museum, Niort Museum.

© Benton Fine Art