Fantin-Latour - musee du Luxembourg

Tuesday I was thrilled to attend the preview of the new Fantin-Latour exhibit at musee du Luxembourg. A lot closer then trouping off to an F-L retrospective in Lausanne, Switzerland in 2007.

This exhibit, subtitled 'under the skin' shows all aspects and obssessions of Fantin-Latour. He did a great many self-portrait. Who else is around to pose endlessly than yourself. He seems to be intensely glowering but if you're looking up at the mirror and then down at your paper I suppose its bound to happen. He did have lots of hair to contend with.

Portraits were one of his mainstays.

His family took the honors till the public recognized his talents.

He also did monumental imaginary homages to Delacroix and Berlioz (note the background large painting).

But its his still lifes I'm mad for.

Here's an early painting.

He painted 500 still lifes.

I would have been pleased just to see them but no one asked my opinion.

Whistler encouraged him to come to London and paint still lifes and they took off.

My sketch of F-L's lovely apricots above are not so hot.

I felt like this portrait of a painter gazing forlornly at a delicate bouquet. Note empty canvas.

I'm doing better with watermelon. (Cocomera or pastaque if you're Italian or French). 

Back to flower still lifes.

Breath taking no?

This glassy water jug with roses is one of his finest.

And the piece de resistance was painted as an engagement gift to his fiancee. They did not marry until eight  years later, which speaks volumes about Fantin-Latour. Too busy painting I guess..

You'll find lovely floral patterned scarfs and floral scents in the Luxembourg museum gift shop. This is a painter worth discovering if you dont know his work. The exhibit is on until February 12, 2017.

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