SwissArtGallery · Documented identity

Ker-Xavier Roussel

François Xavier Roussel, known as Ker-Xavier Roussel, trained in Paris before joining the Nabis circle. He studied at the Lycée Condorcet from 1882 to 1885, then entered the Maillart studio. From 1888, he attended classes at the École des beaux-arts de Paris and the Académie Julian in 1889. His connection with Édouard Vuillard dates back to their school years; he later married the painter’s sister. Roussel belonged to the Nabis group, alongside, among others, Bonnard, Denis and Sérusier.

In 1891, the Nabis exhibited at the gallery of Le Barc de Boutteville. From 1894 to 1904, Roussel regularly took part in the Libre Esthétique in Brussels, the Salon des indépendants in Paris, as well as exhibitions at the Bernheim and Druet galleries. His work also extended to the theatre: with Bonnard, Vuillard and Paul Sérusier, he created sets for the Théâtre de l’Œuvre.

Hill with Fruit Trees bears witness to his work on paper: this watercolour, executed over a preparatory pencil sketch, measures 17.3 × 24.9 cm, the dimensions of the sheet. The work is recorded as having belonged to the collection of Dr Arthur and Hedy Hahnloser-Bühler in Winterthur, before passing by inheritance into a Swiss private collection. It was included in exhibitions in Winterthur in 1937 and Lucerne in 1940, then in Bremen in 1965 and Munich in 1969. The catalogue also lists prints from the suite Landscapes, dated around 1900, including People at the Seashore and The Spring.

The book Ker-Xavier Roussel (1867-1944) : Le nabi bucolique, edited by Estelle Guille des Buttes-Fresneau, was published in 2011 by Somogy Éditions d’Art and the Musée de Pont-Aven.

This profile brings together identity references for Ker-Xavier Roussel and paintings, drawings and works on paper documented in auction catalogues.

11 references are documented at Artcurial Beurret Bailly Widmer, Dobiaschofsky, DognyAuction, Kornfeld, Piguet, Germann. Each record links to its source; the amounts are not a general valuation of the artist’s work.

Works recorded at auction

Artcurial Beurret Bailly Widmer · Lot 24

The Tree

Pastel and charcoal on paper

Original catalogue wording

L'arbre
Pastell und Kohle auf Papier

Catalogue period : 2025-06-25

Catalogue reference — sale not confirmed

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Kornfeld · Lot 1546

Orpheus chasing the Maenads

Oil on canvas

Original catalogue wording

Orpheus, die Mänaden jagend
oil on canvas

Catalogue period : 2024-09-10

Published result : 3200 CHF

Hammer price, excluding fees

Estimate : CHF 4000

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Kornfeld · Lot 539

Hill with fruit trees

Watercolour

Original catalogue wording

Colline aux arbres fruitiers
watercolour

Catalogue period : 2023-06-15

Catalogue reference — sale not confirmed

Estimate : CHF 5000

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Kornfeld · Lot 540

Grimaud II

Red chalk drawing

Original catalogue wording

Grimaud II
Drawing in red chalk

Catalogue period : 2023-06-15

Catalogue reference — sale not confirmed

Estimate : CHF 3000

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Dobiaschofsky · Lot 498

Afternoon of a faun

Pastel

Original catalogue wording

L'après-midi d'un faune.
pastel

Catalogue period : 2022-05-06

Published result : 3300 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

Estimate : CHF 2200

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Artcurial Beurret Bailly Widmer · Lot 15

Nymphs and children playing, circa 1905

Oil on wood

Original catalogue wording

Nymphes et enfants jouant, um 1905
Öl auf Holz

Catalogue period : 2021-09-29

Published result : 7900 CHF

Including buyer’s premium

Estimate : CHF 3000–5000

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Kornfeld · Lot 652

Judgement of Paris

Indian ink

Original catalogue wording

Jugement de Paris
Tusche

Catalogue period : 2018-06-14

Published result : 700 CHF

Hammer price, excluding fees

Estimate : CHF 1000

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Piguet

"La danse"

Oil on cardboard

Original catalogue wording

"La danse"
huile sur carton

Catalogue period : 2019-05-22

Published result : 3000 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

Estimate : CHF 3000–5000

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Piguet

L'après-midi d'un faune,

Pastel

Original catalogue wording

L'après-midi d'un faune,
pastel

Catalogue period : 2019-05-22

Published result : 3000 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

Estimate : CHF 1000–1500

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Germann

Landscape, 1901

Pastel.

Original catalogue wording

Paysage, 1901
Pastell.

Date to be documented

Catalogue reference — sale not confirmed

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References excluded from statistics: attributions and special lots

These references are shown separately because of their attribution or lot composition. Each record states the reason.

DognyAuction

Attributed to Ker-Xavier ROUSSEL — On the shores of the lake

Oil on panel

Original catalogue wording

Attribué à Ker-Xavier ROUSSEL — Sur les rives du lac
huile sur panneau
attr.

Date to be documented

Attributed

Published result : 998 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

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Sources and references

• Reference record
• ARTIC · Reference link only; institutional text and images are not reproduced.
• LoC · Reference link only; institutional text and images are not reproduced.
• Documentary source
• Documentary source
• Documentary source

SwissArtGallery documentary note based on the cited sources. Titles, media and qualifications are provided in the profile language; the original catalogue wording remains available in each record.
Documentation updated : 2026-10-19