Provence: A Muse to Famous Painters

Written on : 18 December 2020
By : Laura Wendy Harders López

With its mesmerising flora, luscious meadows, majestic mountains and beautiful centuries-old castles, it's no wonder that Provence has been availed as an inspirational muse for most famous 19th-20th-century painters. Many have marvelled at this lush and scenic gallic region, featuring it in various iconic paintings-- notably from the impressionist period onwards when French artists started turning away from the classical styles of painting. These began representing their first visual impressions using different expressions of light and colour.

If you ever escape to this romantic region and happen to be an art lover, you cannot miss out on exploring The Painters' Route. This journey invites one to discover Provence from an artistic point of view and follow the trails of these famous painters while exploring the radiant landscapes which inspired them. On this fantastic route, you will also be able to visit the provincial museums devoted to the lives and works of these iconic painters.

So, if you're interested in learning more about these revolutionary painters and their strong association with Provence, then read on!

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1) Cézanne

Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) was a resident of Aix-en-Provence in Provence. And today, this town is fully dedicated to the life and work of its brilliant painter, where one can admire Cezanne's workshops and paintings in museums like Cezanne's studio, Museé Angaldon Dubrujeaud, and Museé Granet.

Cézanne was a true admirer of his region-- and felt such love that he figured many Provençal landscapes and inhabitants in a whole collection of artworks, consisting of 86 paintings, 29 watercolours, and two lithographs. Many of the famous depictions included: the Cézanne family property, known as the Jas de Bouffan, the fishing village of L'Estaque and countryside hamlets of Gardanne and Bellevue, the lonely landscape of Bibémus, the Château Noir near Aix-en-Provence, and his greatest love for the distinctive mountain Montage Sainte-Victoire. This marvellous mountain settled on the outskirts of Aix-en-Provence overlooking stunning Provençal sceneries was the muse of this painter. He felt such devotion for Mountain Sainte-Victoire that he even painted it 87 times. Cézanne later inspired many emerging artists of the time, one of which was Picasso, who called Cézanne "the father of us all".

2) Picasso

Renowned painter Pablo Picasso (1881- 1973) was a big admirer of Cézanne, and even purchased many of his paintings. He felt such admiration for the artist that it even inspired him to move to Provence and resided there for the last twenty years of his life. He bought a beautiful castle in Vauvenages-- located on the northern slopes of Cezanne's favourite mountain, Sainte Victoire-- and dwelled there 1958 - 1963 with his wife, Jacqueline Roque. Picasso figured the famous Mountain Sainte-Victoire in "Nude under a Pine Tree" in 1959.

Despite dying somewhere else, he got buried in Vauvenages-- sharing a tomb with his wife. Today, Jacqueline's daughter owns the castle and occasionally opens it for tour visits which can be arranged at the tourist office in Aix.

Picasso also fell under Provence's spell, and his creative vigour found fertile ground in this beautiful region, where he made a significant lasting impression. However, during his time there, he felt most overwhelmed by the memories of Spain that this land evoked in him. Especially in the town of Arles, in which he surprisingly found bullfighting, flamenco dancing, and the distinct atmosphere similar to that of Spain; his home country where he, unfortunately, could never return due to the ongoing Spanish civil war.

3) Vincent Van Gogh

The Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) was also very fond of Provence, where he took residence after living in Paris to cure his manic depression. He made Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and Arles globally famous and figured many beautiful Provençal locations in his iconic paintings, highlighting the emblematic features of the Alpilles highlands, and cypress and olive trees. When exploring the famous Painter's Route, you might recognise Quai du Rhône which is in the "The Starry Night" and "Pont de Langlois".

If you get a chance of going to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, a must-visit is the Saint-Paul-de Mausole, Monastery-- this was Vincent Van Gogh's clinic at the time where he got treated for his manic depression in 1889 and would spend long hours creating numerous paintings.

He also lived a spell in Arles, Provence, where he lived with fellow painter and friend Paul Gaughin, with whom he worked on the same topics. It was in this city where he iconically cut off his ear, which happened right after a heavy dispute with Gaughin.

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4) Henri Matisse

Your next port of call on this Provençal-art tour is in Nice. This wonderful town of Provence was the residence of painter Henri Matisse (1869-1954). He moved there from northern France, and resided in Nice for the rest of his life, as he was deeply fascinated by the town's Mediterranean life, with its range of colours, lights, and people.

He prolifically painted many beautiful artworks featuring the region's lush landscapes, seaside, and enigmatic interiors of his hotel room at the Beau Rivage. Some of his famous Provençal landscape paintings are Landscape Nice-- Le Cateau-Cambrésis (1919), Le Vivier (Paysage de Provence), 1923, Mont Alban (1918), and Paysage de Collioure. And he also produced many portraits of women on terraces overlooking the Mediterranean sea.

If you fancy seeing his most emblematic works of art, a must-visit on your travel itinerary is the Musée Matisse-- here you'll find his most outstanding pieces.

So, when vacationing in Provence, remember that these lovely painters' trails are waiting for you to discover!

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