Painter, pastellist. Landscapes, urban landscapes, landscapes with figures, still-lifes (including flowers/fruit).
Ernest Quost probably studied under Horace Aumont during his time in Paris. He first exhibited at the Salon de Paris in 1866 and went on to exhibit at the Salon des Artistes Français, winning medals in 1880 and 1882. He became a member of the Salon in 1887 and was awarded a further medal in 1889 for the Exposition Universelle and medals in 1890 and 1900 for the out-of-competition section of the Exposition Universelle. He was made Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur in 1883 and an Officer in 1903. He taught Montézin.

Quost mainly painted Paris, portraying the bustle of the streets and the local dance parties. He would start with a number of sketches and then develop the work in his studio. Claude Monet admired his flower paintings and Van Gogh, in a letter to his brother Theo, alluded to 'Father Quost's roses'.

Vincent Van Gogh spoke in glowing terms of his "magnificent roses" and affectionately called him "The Hollyhock", in reference to his specialty, the floral painting. However, posterity has not retained his name and the artist, praised during his lifetime and medalist on several occasions at the Salon of French Artists and on the occasion of the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1889, was to fall into the oblivion, absent both on the art market and within museums. Until the 1970s, the family kept the entire workshop of their ancestor, not allowing Ernest Quost to be exposed and revealed to as many people as possible.

Museum and Gallery Holdings

Bernay: Flowers
Castres: Brook in Flower
Gray: Study of an Apple Tree
Limoges: Pinnacles and Rose Windows
Nancy (MBA): Basket of Gladioli
Paris (Mus. d'Orsay): Flowers for Planting; Greenhouse; Landscape
Paris (Mus. Marmottan-Monet): Flowers
Rouen: April Song