A Pair of Swans

Arden Leo, also known as Charlotte Léonie, was born in the enchanting city of Antwerp, either in 1859 or 1860. She is best remembered as the first wife of the painter Henri Arden (1858 – 1917) and as a talented pupil of the renowned Alfred Stevens (1823 – 1906).

Her artistic inclination leaned toward the creation of anecdotal genre scenes and landscapes, albeit in more intimate dimensions, rarely opting for larger canvases. What set her apart was her impulsive style and a unique vibrancy of colors, which allowed her to paint with a distinctive flair. In the words of the press, “Her feminine sensibility led to a preference for anecdotal and sentimental subjects, which she masterfully depicted with grace and often infused with a touch of melancholy.” Her artistic persona shone through the delicacy and subtlety with which she conjured a poetic and mystical atmosphere, as noted in the “Biographie Nationale.”

Arden Leo’s work found recognition as she exhibited at the ‘Cercle Artistique’ in Brussels in 1886 and became a regular presence at the Salon de Paris from 1896 onwards.

She passed away in Uccle-les-Brussels in 1904. Today, her paintings continue to enchant art enthusiasts and can be found in numerous private and public collections, including museums in Antwerp and Brussels, Belgium.

Her legacy is well-documented in various sources, including:

Joachim Busse’s “Internationales Handbuch aller Maler und Bildhauer des 19. Jahrhunderts.”

“Le Dictionnaire des Peintres Belges du XIVe siècle à nos jours,” published by La Renaissance du Livre.

Paul Piron’s “De Belgische Beeldende Kunstenaars uit de 19de en 20ste eeuw,” part of the Art in Belgium series.

The “Lexicon of the Belgian Romantic Painters,” Antwerpen 1981.

“Biografisch Lexicon Plastische Kunst in België,” published by Arto in 2000.

E. Bénézit’s “Dictionnaire Critique et Documentaire des Peintres Sculpteurs Dessinateurs et Graveurs,” Grüd 1999.

Arden Leo’s contribution to the world of art endures through her captivating creations and the recognition she receives in both historical and contemporary contexts.