Provencale French interior view, mid century, watercolour on paper by Auguste Drouot. The painting is signed bottom right and presented in a period frame, currently without glass.

This charming and captivating painting showcases a sumptuous provincial French interior, brimming with warmth and charm. At the centre an 18th century French vaisselier and a richly ornate Louis XV chest of drawers with fine ormolu mounts, both adorned with colourful vases and delicate porcelain reflected in the mirror n the wall, anchor the room. A fine Provencale armchair with a bold red cushion invites the viewer in, positioned strategically in front of the commode, enhancing the scene's welcoming ambiance. The room is bathed in warm hues—golden browns and rich reds dominate, while splashes of green and blue provide lively contrast. Luminous light filters through an adjacent door, suggesting an enfildae of rooms leading to a serene outdoor space that beckons exploration. Textures are masterfully rendered, from the reflective quality of the polished floor to the intricate carvings on the furniture. This piece melds everyday elegance with artistic fluidity, capturing the essence of a lived-in space that is both elegant, vibrant and tranquil. The composition's harmonious balance of colour and light transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary.

César Auguste Drouot, (known as Auguste Drouot) born on October 23, 1881 in La Fère (Aisne) and died in Dijon on September 9, 1955[1], was a French watercolourist, draughtsman and architect. Son of the café owner-restaurateur Alexandre Drouot and Marie Louise Leblanc, he married Anais Françoise Raucaz in Dijon on February 4, 1911. He exhibited at the Salon des Architectes in 1910 and obtained an honourable mention the following year. He was noticed in 1924 by exhibiting at the Galerie Simonson the drawings Picturesque Street in Dôle, The Palace of Justice in Dijon and View of Ghent. As an architect, he mainly designed Art Deco style buildings corresponding to his time and he was in charge of the Dijon War Memorial between 1922 and 1924.