French, 1855-1947
Nicknamed the "Corot Provencal", Louis Gautier's painting demonstrates a respectful influence from his academic lessons received from Alexandre Cabanel in Paris from 1880 through 1884, and a deep admiration in following the example of the great Barbizon master Corot in his attentive observation of nature. With the exception of the four years in Paris, the artist spent his entire career painting in his native region in the South of France. Whilst in Paris, he frequented Ville d'Avray, the home of Corot, and exhibited a view of the town "Vue de Ville-d'Avray in the Salon of 1884. When he returned to Aix, he continued to send paintings to the Paris Salons, and exhibited in regional Salons in Monpellier, in Avignon, Marseille, and Aix, showing landscapes of the regions of Provence and of the Languedoc. His landscapes show a sensibility close to Corot, a delicate and subtly nuanced palette, meticulous drawing and brushwork and a firm composition. He is one of the artists’ best able to translate the quality of light in the South of France.
Gautier quickly acquired a reputation and realized numerous decorations for public buildings in Aix-en-Provence including the ceiling for the Théatre Municipal in 1888, and the Hotel de Ville from 1900 to 1905. In 1894 he was a founding member of the Société des Amis des Arts in Aix.
His atelier in the Villa Acantha in Aix contains a number of studies and canvases by the artist.
This very personal work represents his wife Madame Gautier, and was made especially to hang above a door in the artist's house in Aix en Provence.
Museums:
Aix - "Paysage, bords de l'arc, 1887
Montpellier - 3 landscapes
