Gaston Bethune

1857-1897 French

Master of French Luminist landscapes

Gaston Béthune is a landscape painter from the French school. He was born in 1857 in Paris and died in Auteuril (a suburb of Paris) in 1897. Béthune began his formal studies with landscape painter Jules Achille Noel (1815-1881). He would continue is studies with historical painter Léon Bonnat (1833-1922) and watercolorist Pierre-François- Eugéne Giraud (1806-1881) at the Beaux-Art Academie. Béthune debuted at the Paris Salon of 1876 and soon became an important figure and regular contributor to the salons. He was recognized for his Luminist landscapes in both oil and watercolor. Although his career was shortened by illness and death, Béthune had an incredibility successful life and career. In 1881, he was knighted Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, one of France’s most coveted honors.