Lot Essay
This painting was executed circa 1832. Rousseau's biographer, Alfred Sensier writes the following about Rousseau's trip to Normandy: "L'année suivante il retourne en Normandie (1832), et Rousseau va droit au Mont Saint Michel, ou il peint la vue générale de l'ilot, prise des greves qui l'environment, puis la vieille abbaye, transformée en prison, avec toutes les maisons et les constructions qui l'envahissent." (Sensier, p. 35). The following excerpt is taken from Prosper Dorbec: "Il semble que le Mont Saint Michel paraissait alors le point extrême ou pût atteindre un paysagiste, et encore était-ce en raison de l'attrait romantique du monument que l'idée se hasardait si au loin Rousseau, reprenant l'été suivant (1832) ses fructueuses explorations, gagna directement les parages du site fameux." (p. 38)
Rousseau also painted a second version of Mont Saint Michel, showing the famous monument set further back in the distance and with several figures walking at low tide. There is also a preparatory drawing of Mont Saint Michel in the Musée de Rouen (Collection Baderou).
The authenticity of this painting has been confirmed by the Comité Rousseau. It will be reproduced in the Catalogue raisonné of Rousseau's paintings in preparation by Pierre Miguel.
This painting will be included in volume II of the forthcoming catalogue raisonné on Rousseau by Michel Schulman.
Rousseau also painted a second version of Mont Saint Michel, showing the famous monument set further back in the distance and with several figures walking at low tide. There is also a preparatory drawing of Mont Saint Michel in the Musée de Rouen (Collection Baderou).
The authenticity of this painting has been confirmed by the Comité Rousseau. It will be reproduced in the Catalogue raisonné of Rousseau's paintings in preparation by Pierre Miguel.
This painting will be included in volume II of the forthcoming catalogue raisonné on Rousseau by Michel Schulman.