Raymond Louis Allègre (1857-1933) - Cannes, la Villa Faustina

Oil on canvas signed lower left
91 cm x 71 cm - with frame: 111.5 cm x 92 cm

Raymond Allègre was a painter from Marseille, born and died in the city. He was one of Provence's finest realist painters, along with Felix Ziem and Jean-Baptiste Olive, whom he met at the École des beaux-arts de Marseille, and with whom he remained closely associated throughout his life. Allègre continued his training at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris with the greatest masters, Jean-Paul Laurens, Antoine Vollon and Léon Bonnat. He left us landscapes of the Paris region and Normandy from this period. Raymond Allègre returned to live in Provence, but continued to exhibit at the Paris Salon from 1880 until 1932, where he won numerous prizes and received major commissions from the French government. Among other works, he decorated the "Le Train Bleu" restaurant at the Gare de Lyon, creating the "Algiers" and "Cassis" panels. In 1900, Allègre discovered Venice, which inspired him to paint a large number of canvases, henceforth classifying him as an Orientalist painter as well.

Recognized during his lifetime, Allègre was named Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur in 1903. His views of Monaco and the surrounding area, Martigues and the Côte d'Azur in general, set new standards. However, like Casile, Raymond Allègre's work was to suffer in the 20th century from the decline of those painters who did not participate in the Parisian Impressionist salons. Even today, this painter's work is highly underrated. And yet, his style is very much Impressionist, with a lively, light touch. The strength of his paintings was recognized during his lifetime, and will remain visible in the many works exhibited in French museums: Musée des Beaux-Arts in Roanne, Musée de Brou in Bourg-en-Bresse, Musée des Beaux-Arts in Marseille (4 paintings), Musée Cantini in Marseille (4 paintings), Salle dorée in the Gare de Lyon restaurant in Paris, Musée des Beaux-Arts in Rouen...

This work is a large, beautiful vertical painting. This is a rare format for Allègre, who plunges us into the sumptuous lifestyle of the Côte d'Azur during the Belle Epoque. The artist has cleverly positioned his easel to give his painting perspective and depth of field. He chose the end of a sunny day to treat the shadows and last rays of sunlight that give the trees and architectural elements their astonishing volume. The thick pictorial material is carefully treated with a palette of colors as rich as they are harmonious. The painting is in perfect condition, on its original canvas and in its original frame.