Bay of Menton, Villa Maria Serena

Adolphe Irénée Guillon
(Paris 1829-1896 Yonne)

Bay of Menton, Villa Maria Serena

The Louvre museum holds a drawing of this painting
GUILLON Adolphe Irénée " Vue d'une baie aux environs de Menton " RF 15798, Recto, Département des Arts graphiques
The work can be viewed by appointment in the Graphic Arts consultation room.

The 'Orsay Museum has a drawing of this painting
Adolphe Guillon
View of a bay near Menton
Date undetermined
Pen
H. 20.2; L. 27.3 cm
Method of acquisition unknown, 1931
Other inventory numbers
RF22841


Biography:
Adolphe-Irénée was a genre painter, landscape artist and engraver born in Paris.
Pupil of Jules Noel and Gleyre at the École des Beaux- Arts de Paris. Won medals in 1867 and 1880.
He made his debut at the 1863 Salon. Exhibited in London between 1869 and 1879.

The work:
The painting entitled "Baie de Menton" depicts a scene of striking splendor.
In the foreground, a sumptuous, dazzlingly white villa rises majestically, its pinkish walls adding a touch of softness to its imposing silhouette. Nestled atop a hill, it overlooks the bay of Menton on the Côte d'Azur.
Lush vegetation flourishes around Villa Maria Serena, creating a green setting that enhances the purity of the building.
Majestic trees bow gracefully, while vibrantly hued bougainvillea embrace the balustrades and walls of the residence.
On the horizon, the contours of the mountains gently take shape, creating a striking contrast with the azure sky, which fades into a palette of deep blues.
The shimmering sea stretches as far as the eye can see, reflecting the blue of the sky and completing the symphony of color that inhabits this canvas.the artist has masterfully captured the harmonious fusion between architectural grandeur in the image of Charles Garnier, lush nature and the immensity of the marine horizon.


Villa Maria Serena in Menton, France, is a notable historic residence designed by French architect Charles Garnier,
the same man famous for designing the Opera Garnier in Paris.
Created in 1886 for the Foucher de Careil family, Villa Maria Serena was acquired in 1922 by a British banker, Henry Konig, who bequeathed it to the town in 1947.


Museums :
Paris (Louvre | Orsay) - Auxerre - Bucharest -Vézelay -Clamecy - Dijon - Rouen- British Museum