Raymond Louis Allègre (1857-1933) - Cannes,Villa Faustina
H. 91 cm x L. 71 cm - With frame H. 111.5 cm x L. 92 cm
Oil on canvas signed lower left
Raymond Louis Allègre (1857-1933) - Cannes,Villa Faustina
Dimensions : H. 91 cm x L. 71 cm - With frame H. 111.5 cm x L. 92 cm
Raymond Allègre is a painter from Marseille, born and died in the Phocaean city. He is one of the best realist painters of Provence with Felix Ziem and Jean-Baptiste Olive whom he met at the Marseille School of Fine Arts, and with whom he remained very close throughout his life. Allègre continued his training at the Paris School of Fine Arts with the greatest masters, Jean-Paul Laurens, Antoine Vollon and Léon Bonnat. He leaves us landscapes of the Paris region and Normandy from this period. Raymond Allègre returned to live in Provence while continuing to exhibit at the Salon in Paris from 1880 until 1932 where he won numerous prizes and received important orders from the French state. Among other things, he participated in the decoration of the “Le Train Bleu” restaurant at Gare de Lyon by creating the “Algiers” and “Cassis” panels. In 1900, Allègre discovered Venice, which inspired a large number of paintings, and henceforth classified him as an orientalist painter as well.
Recognized during his lifetime, Allègre was named knight of the Legion of Honor in 1903. His views of Monaco and its surroundings, of Martigues and the Côte d'Azur in general, are a reference. However, like that of Casile, the work of Raymond Allègre will suffer in the 20th century the downgrading of these painters who will not have participated in the Parisian salons of the impressionists. The painting of this painter is still very underrated today. His way of painting is nevertheless very impressionistic, with a lively and lively touch. The strength of his paintings was recognized during his lifetime, and will remain clearly visible with numerous works exhibited in French museums: Museum of Fine Arts of Roanne, Museum of Brou in Bourg-en-Bresse, Museum of Fine Arts of Marseille (4 paintings), Cantini museum in Marseille (4 paintings), Golden room of the restaurant at Gare de Lyon in Paris, Rouen museum of fine arts…
This work is a beautiful and large vertical painting. This is a rather rare format for Allègre which immerses us here in the sumptuous living environment of the French Riviera during the Belle Epoque. The artist very intelligently positioned his easel to give his painting perspective and a significant depth of field. He chose a sunny end of the day to deal with the shadows and the last rays of sun which give this astonishing volume to the trees and architectural elements. The thick pictorial material is carefully treated with a palette of colors that is as rich as it is harmonious. The painting is in perfect condition, on its original canvas and in its original frame.