Vaclav RADIMSKY (1867-1946). The Seine at Vernon in Snowy We - Lot 168

Vaclav RADIMSKY (1867-1946). The Seine at Vernon in Snowy Weather, 1900. Oil on canvas signed and dated lower right. 65 x 92 cm. Provenance: BAUDY family, owners at the time of a hotel in Giverny where artists used to meet. Then by descent. In our composition, Radimsky depicts the Seine at Vernon in winter. In the foreground, rushes emerge from the water. Then, in the background, the banks of both sides of the river. Finally, in the background, a few trees appear. The artist masterfully recreates perspective, that third dimension on a flat surface. Snow is always a difficult subject for a painter, as it requires an economy of means. The palette of our painting is limited: white, green, yellow, ochre, blue, grey and violet. The influence of the Impressionists is obvious, as is that of Monet, but Radimsky has a style all his own. In addition to being perfectly documented, the canvas's dating, which is rather rare for Radimsky, makes it possible to situate it precisely in the artist's oeuvre, chronologically of course, but also geographically, i.e. on the banks of the Seine, since it was produced during the period when the artist lived in Giverny before leaving for Czechoslovakia, where he would end his life. Technically, the colors are applied directly to the canvas, without preparation, i.e. without prior application of a coating; stylistically, this allows the artist to play with "voids", leaving large sections of his canvas blank, which he uses as negative colors. Having moved to Giverny to immerse himself in the Impressionist revolution through contact with one of its founders, Claude Monet, the artist reached full artistic maturity here, masterfully rendering a river landscape marked by spontaneity and economy of means. Bibliography: Our painting appears in a photo taken in the bar of the Hôtel Baudy, reproduced on page 179 of the exhibition catalog: Katherine M. BOURGUIGNON. Giverny impressionniste- une colonie d'artistes 1885-1915 (Terra Foundation and RMN, 2007) This photo is part of a set of two photo albums preserved by the Baudy couple's descendants, depicting daily life in Giverny at the turn of the 20th century. They include photos of the Monet-Hoschedé and Baudy families and their respective entourages, as well as photos taken in the hotel with the many artists who lived there. When Lucien Baudy and his wife Angélica née Ledoyen (1853-1942) opened their hotel in June 1887, they expected a steady stream of French and foreign visitors drawn by the legend of Impressionist leader Claude Monet (1840-1926), who had settled there full-time. The future proved the couple right. Over the years, their hotel welcomed painters as well as businessmen, journalists and holidaymakers. The village of Giverny became a veritable artists' colony, a phenomenon common throughout Europe at the time, where artists set off in nostalgic search of picturesque sites untouched by the ongoing upheavals of a continent in the throes of unbridled modernization brought about by industrialization and urbanization. Giverny's success is due to its proximity to Paris and easy access by train. The artists came mainly from the United States, but also from all over Europe, like the Czech artist Radimsky from Moravia. From 1896, the children of the hotel's founders, Gaston (1870-1920) and his wife Clarisse née Nicolas (1875-1960), took over management of the establishment, which Angelina continued to enliven with her presence. For years, artists affectionately presented her with paintings, which they hung on the walls of the hotel. The Hôtel Baudy was at the heart of the social life of artists, who organized costume balls and exhibitions, played tennis on the adjoining courts and worked in the purpose-built studio at the end of the garden. To accommodate their needs, Mme Baudy taught them to cook American specialties, and also offered artists' supplies, which she purchased from Lefebvre-Foinet. The First World War would bring a rather abrupt end to this friendly bustle. Expert : Expertises Tellier, Paris / Marc-Henri TELLIER, CEFA member Václav RADIMSKÝ (1867-1946). Seina ve Vernonu za sněžného počasí, 1900. Olej na plátně, signováno a datováno vpravo dole. 65 x 92 cm. Provenience: rodina BAUDY, v té době majitelé hotelu v Giverny, kde se scházeli umělci. Dále pak prostřednictvím descentů. V naší kompozici