Un Jardin Trouville (A Garden in Trouville)

In 1881 Gustave Caillebotte and his brother Martial bought a home in Petite Gennevilliers. According to Anne Distel, "he created a magnificent garden on this property, complemented by a large greenhouse for the cultivation of exotic plants" (A. Distel, Gustave Caillebotte: Urban Impressionist, New York, 1995, p. 21). As well as being an avid gardener, Caillebotte was also a passionate sailor. In June of 1880 he went to Le Havre to participate in a regatta and he returned to the Normandy coast each summer thereafter until 1891. Located on the Cte Fleurie, Trouville was a favorite resort for Parisianers, and Caillebotte found inspiration in the town's surroundings and gardens. In Un Jardin Trouville Caillebotte uses contrasting areas of shadow and light with strong diagonals as he had in his earlier urban scenes. In 1882, the same year he painted Un Jardin Trouville, he sent several views of Normandy to the Impressionist exhibition. Un Jardin Trouville was in the collection of Jacques Lamy, the brother of the artist Eugne Lamy who was a good friend of Caillebotte and whose portrait was sold at Christie's London 26 June 1990 (lot 235).