Leon-Auguste MELLÉ
 (Paris, 1816 -?, 1889)

 Waterfall in Norcia
 Oil on paper mounted on panel
 Workshop sale stamp on the back
 30.5 x 50.5 cm

 The scant information we have on Léon-Auguste MELLÉ, who was nevertheless prolific but apparently of uneven quality, comes solely from the booklets of the Paris Salon where he exhibited for forty years without interruption!

 Léon-Auguste MELLÉ was born on April 15, 1816 in Paris and was a student of Jules COIGNET (1798-1860) and Charles-Caius RENOUX (1795-1846). He appeared very regularly at the Paris Salon between 1839 and 1879 with views taken in Switzerland, Dauphiné, Picardy and the surroundings of Paris. According to our oil on paper, the artist therefore made a trip to Italy.

 The artist died in 1889 at the age of 73.

 Museums: Paris (Mus. Carnavalet), Sceau

 The waterfall depicted here is located on the back of the panel in Norcia (Umbria), birthplace of the founder of the Benedictine order, St. Benedict. More precisely, it is the impressive Marmore Falls. Among the highest in Europe, the waters cascade 165 meters over 3 terraces, one of which is depicted here. The name derives from the calcium salts in the rocks that take on the appearance of marble.
 These artificial waterfalls were built by the Romans in 271 BC to drain the stagnant waters of the Velino River marshes, directing them to the natural Marmore Falls and into the Black River. Built over 2000 years ago, it is the largest artificial waterfall in the world.
 The site is located about forty kilometers north of Rome near the town of Neri.