22
Marquayrol, le bassin de la tonnelle sud, c.1920
Signed lower left 'Henri Martin'
Oil on canvas
28 7/8 x 33 7/8 in, 73.3 x 86.0 cm
P R O V E N A N C E
Findlay Galleries, Inc., New York
Collection of Mr. and Mrs. John R. McFarlin, San Antonio, Texas
Thence by descent
L I T E R AT U R E
This work is accompanied by a photo certificate issued by Cyrille Martin and
dated 23rd January 2014
My preoccupation with rendering atmospheric effects increased in
the country, face to face with nature. Trying to capture its diverse
effects, I was compelled to paint it differently. The natural light,
now brilliant, then diffuse, which softened the contours of figures
and landscape, powerfully obliged me to translate … through
pointille and the breaking up of tone…
- Henri Martin
Martin's focus on conveying the effects of light are clear in
Marquayrol, le bassin de la tonnelle sud. Through contrasting
the burnt oranges from the rays of the sun with the luscious
greens of the trees, this image of Marquayrol is filled with a
magical vibrancy.
Martin paints an array of tones from purple to yellow,
creating an elusive atmosphere where nothing seems to be
still. This pointillist technique of separating colours instead
of painting in a block, allows for the hues to merge in the
eye as it scans the scene and then distinguish the forms. This
method perfectly captures the essence of moving light and
demonstrates how Martin viewed his beloved Marquayrol.
