Fantin-Latour, Lausanne

I saw this Henri Fantin-Latour (1836-1904) painting in Pratique des arts, a French art journal.  A retrospective was on in Lausanne, Switzerland. He is one of my favorite still life painters. Too tempting to resist.

I hopped on an early TGV Lyria train from Gare de Lyon yesterday.

Four hours later I was ready to devour Fantin-Latour at the Fondation L'Hermitage.

Can you guess why?

Instant love.

 One of Fantin-Latour's still lives painted as a gift to his future fiance, Victoria Dubourg. 

They met while copying paintings at the Louvre in the 1860s. This still life is so delicate, so balanced. Perfection. Well worth the trip to Lausanne. I did not attempt to take a photo anywhere in this museum. The Swiss police would have been after me with Swiss Army knives and Military watches.

The museum is set on a hill above Lausanne. I took the scenic walk down through a wooded park. The weather was perfect.

The footpath gets rather steep at times.

I stopped at a little vegan cafe, La Cafetiere Verte,

for a dish of curry to keep me going.

The footpath ends in the "old" town/veille Ville.

I took a wrong turn and discovered

Old traditional tin signs grouped together.

This sign reminded me of Jeanette, Mistress of Long Ears Manor - a renowned rabbit fancier..

Swiss paper silhouettes of chalets and farm scenes en route back to the train station.

And of course the classic Swiss Military watch. One Swiss souvenir I forgot to try before taking the train back to Paris - Swiss bière.