Elisabeth Sonrel, Élisabeth Sonrel

Élisabeth Sonrel (1874 – 1953) was a French painter and illustrator associated with the Art Nouveau movement. Her works encompassed allegorical subjects, mysticism, symbolism, portraits, and landscapes. Born in Tours, France, she received early training from her father, Nicolas Stéphane Sonrel, who was also a painter. Notably, her large watercolours, influenced by the Pre-Raphaelite style, garnered acclaim. Her 1895 painting “Le Sommeil de la Vierge” (Sleep of the Virgin) received a bronze medal at the Exposition Universelle of 1900. In her later years, she focused on portraits, Brittany landscapes, and flower studies.