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Lot Essay
'Intimism, a term which best describes Lebasque's painting, refers to the close domestic subject matter in such a manner as to convey the personal nature of his response to the thing painted, and the universal familiarity of home and family. There is a sense of calm infused in Lebasque's paintings which celebrate the fullness and richness of life. In his placid scenes of gardens and beaches, terraces and dinner tables, Lebasque portrays his family in particular, but in such a way that he appeals to a larger sense of family gathering and devotion’ (exh. cat., Montgomery Gallery, San Francisco, Lebasque, 1986, p. 12).
His daughter Marthe, who often modelled for her father, explained that when people are included in a landscape they form part of the atmosphere and the surroundings that he sought before all else to recreate. The expression of the faces then has less importance'
(L. A. Banner & P. M. Fairbanks, op. cit., p. 113)
For more than thirty years Lebasque used members of his own family as models in his paintings. The pictures of Lebasque were painted in places where he stayed for longer periods. The present was painted in 1912. The artist spent the summer months from 1912 until 1915 with his family in Vezillon. He depicted his oldest daughter Marthe holding his newly born son Pierre. In the background his twelve year old daughter Nono, wearing a summer hat and dress. His daughter Nono was also painted by Henri Matisse, a good friend of the family. Lebasque used attractive colours and made use of a beautiful light. This painting is a good example of of Lebasque’s lifelong focus on quiet scenes of family life.
His daughter Marthe, who often modelled for her father, explained that when people are included in a landscape they form part of the atmosphere and the surroundings that he sought before all else to recreate. The expression of the faces then has less importance'
(L. A. Banner & P. M. Fairbanks, op. cit., p. 113)
For more than thirty years Lebasque used members of his own family as models in his paintings. The pictures of Lebasque were painted in places where he stayed for longer periods. The present was painted in 1912. The artist spent the summer months from 1912 until 1915 with his family in Vezillon. He depicted his oldest daughter Marthe holding his newly born son Pierre. In the background his twelve year old daughter Nono, wearing a summer hat and dress. His daughter Nono was also painted by Henri Matisse, a good friend of the family. Lebasque used attractive colours and made use of a beautiful light. This painting is a good example of of Lebasque’s lifelong focus on quiet scenes of family life.