Lake Scene

mid 19th century · Oil painting · 27.6 × 46 cm

Can I see it?

Not on view at present

Where is “Lake Scene” now? Collection: Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Not on view at present. Checked September 25, 2026.

Victoria and Albert Museum

London, United Kingdom

It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.

Checked: 15 days ago
In this state since: Sep 25, 2026
Source: The museum

On the map Museum page

About the painting

François Bocion (1828-1890) was born in Lausanne. He first trained with Christian Gottlieb Steinlen (1779-1847) in Vevey and subsequently with François Bonnet (1811-1894) in Lausanne. In Paris in 1845, Bocion entered the atelier of Louis-Aimé Grosclaude (1784-1869) and later that of Charles Gleyre (1806-1874) and befriended Gustave Courbet (1819-1877) and other important exponents of the Realist movement. Back in Lausanne in 1849 he became a teacher at the Ecole moyenne et industrielle of Lausane, a position he held until his death. At the same time, he had an extensive output with several travels abroad. He exhibited in Paris, Vienna, Anvers, London and was a founder member of the Swiss society of watercolorists (1884).

Read on

This painting depicts an unidentified Italian or Swiss lake near the Alps, which appear in the background. This view is probably that of an altitude lake. The two figures conversing add a pleasant anecdote to the composition. The compositional formula is slightly reminiscent of the classical landscapes by Claude and Poussin whereas the paint handling, palette and subject matter are close in style to Bocion although inferior in quality. Bocion was best known for his numerous views of the Leman lake and this painting was probably executed by a close follower around mid 19th century.

Victoria and Albert Museum