Late 19th Century Paris School Mythological Painting. Freya, Norse Goddess. Oil on Canvas

A striking late-19th-century Paris School mythological painting depicting Freya, the Norse goddess, rendered in a dramatic and modern interpretation for its time. Painted with expressive brushwork and presented in its original gilt frame, the work bears a Paris supplier "P. Driault" and the mark on the reverse from 2 rue du Louvre in Paris, placing it firmly within the Paris art world of the period.

This evocative Paris School painting presents a powerful and atmospheric vision of Freya, the Norse goddess associated with love, fertility, battle, and fate. Shown riding through a dark forest landscape, the figure is both regal and dynamic, blending mythological symbolism with a distinctly late-19th-century painterly approach.

Rather than a strictly academic rendering, the artist adopts a more expressive and modern sensibility, using loose brushwork, deep tonal contrasts, and a moody natural setting. The result is a mythological subject treated with emotional intensity rather than classical idealisation — a hallmark of progressive Parisian painting in the final decade of the 19th century. During this period, artists working in Paris were increasingly drawn to mythology, legend, and symbolic themes, inspired by Romanticism, Wagnerian opera, Symbolism, and a broader fascination with ancient gods beyond the Greco-Roman canon. Norse mythology, in particular, gained renewed interest as artists sought subjects rich in drama, mysticism, and narrative power.

On the reverse, the canvas bears the stamp of a Paris art supplier located at 2 rue du Louvre, an address at the heart of the Parisian art trade. Such suppliers provided canvases and materials to professional artists and ateliers, further confirming the painting’s origin within the Paris School milieu.

Good antique condition with age-appropriate craquelure and surface wear. The canvas remains stable. Frame shows natural patina and minor wear consistent with age, enhancing its authenticity. The painting is housed in its original gilt frame, whose restrained ornamentation complements the dark, forested palette and reinforces the work’s late-19th-century character.

Paris School
Oil on canvas
Circa late 19th century
Subject: Freya, Norse goddess
Paris supplier mark on reverse (2 rue du Louvre)
Original gilt frame
Unsigned

Sizing incl Frame:
Height: 20.08 inch (51cm)
Width: 16.54 inch (42cm)
Depth: 1.77 inch (4.5cm)

Sizing Painting:
Height: 16.14 inch (41cm)
Width: 12.99 inch (33cm)

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