Timoléon Marie Lobrichon

Timoléon Lobrichon (French, 1831–1914) was a painter renowned for his charming and sensitive depictions of children, as well as his skill in genre and decorative painting. Beginning in 1859, Lobrichon exhibited regularly at the Paris Salon, winning the first-place medal in 1868. Among his celebrated works is Première Amour (Salon of 1872), portraying a young girl with a soldier doll. His talent for capturing the innocence and appeal of childhood led to several of his works being reproduced in period magazines, and in 1884 he was commissioned to illustrate Jean Aicard’s book La Chanson de l’Enfant; one original painting for this project later appeared at auction in 1986.

Lobrichon’s artistic range extended beyond children. His large horizontal canvas The Birth of Spring (1864) and the oval An Allegory of the Dawn (1875) were likely created for decorative schemes in Parisian hôtels particuliers, demonstrating his skill in allegorical and ornamental painting. He exhibited internationally, including in Germany and Australia, further establishing his reputation. Today, his works are held in public collections such as the museums of Besançon, Chalons-sur-Marne, Limoges, Mulhouse, and the New Orleans Museum of Art.