What had all these artists in common? They were all of Norman origin, and they painted during the same period (on 1880 – 1950) all with a deep passion for the city of Rouen.

In 1902, the critic Arsène Alexandre gathers their talent under the name of “School of Rouen” which counts about thirty painters each with their own sensibility.

Actually, the School took shape around 1890 with Joseph Delattre as leader. It is him who communicated its enthusiasm and its passion for nature to these young artists of the city of hundred bell towers. As for Albert Legrip, he encouraged them by making exhibitions in his gallery and François Depeaux, a Norman manufacturer, bought a collection of impressionnists and rouennais followers but also participated in their promotion by organizing exhibitions across the Atlantic, in New York and in Great Britain.

Since, the School of Rouen gets a certain prestige and a wide reputation at the international level of which Alain Letailleur becomes the bard.