La terrasse ensoleillée

In 1900, at the age of 40, Martin's search for his ideal house where he could sit and paint came to an end when he purchased a large 17th Century house in the village of Labastide du Vert in the Lot in south-west France. Marquayrol became Martin's summer retreat and it is to here that he would retire from the city between the months of May and November. The house was set on the side of a hill, overlooking the village and the surrounding valley and the artist revelled in the beauty and serenity of nature that he lacked in Paris. These intensely peaceful surroundings were to become Martin's preferred subject matter; as well as the landscape around the property, he depicted every single detail of the house and gardens in great detail - the round pool and its statue, the terrace with its vine covered arbors, the pergola, the vineyard, the gate and even his pots of geraniums became recurring themes in his work. Marquayrol remained Martin's connection with nature and light for more than forty years, providing him with both his subject matter and his inspiration.