Noel Saunier (Born 1847 – Died 1890) was the son of Charles Saunier. He was lucky that his father was an artist and he’s the one who gave him his first training in art. He was also taught by Pils Isidore in Paris at the École des Beaux-Arts. Unfortunately, his studies were interrupted when the Franco-Prussian war broke out. When the hostilities were over, Saunier left the academic instruction and began his artistic education afresh, studying the human figure in nature and plein air painting. He first exhibited in 1870 at the Paris Salon and in the same year entered the competition for the Prix de Rome. His next Salon exhibition was in 1872. Saunier’s best-known works include: “In the Park” and “Gladiators Surrendering at the Circus, Bathers.” “In the Park” in particular reveals the beginning of his quest for clarity that would characterize his later works: Marguerite, Ophelia, In the Farmyard, Train Arriving, and Château de Dré. He followed these with a revolutionary and modernized scene: “Provincial Market” and “Here We Dance.”
Successive trips to Burgundy, rekindled his interest in peasant life. So Saunier changed his style and painted Pig Market in Aigueperse, November Hay in Charolais, Loading Cattle into a Truck, The Village Drum, and A Turkey Market in Isère. Several of his works have been sold at auction, including '19th Century European Pictures' and 'The travelling circus' sold in South Kensington in 2005. He illustrated the first series of Simon Jules’ Memoirs of “Other People” and also created original watercolors to decorate the margins of several of books that were published by the Libraire Conquet.
