Henri Martin

Hammer Galleries, New York
Private Collection, New England (sold: Sotheby's, New York, November 12, 1988, lot 395)
Hilde Gerst Gallery, New York (acquired at the above sale and sold: Sotheby's, New York, May 12, 1999, lot 266)
Acquired at the above sale by the present owner

Henri Martin was a master with paint and brush, his canvases are joyous expressions of light, color and texture.  His depictions of landscapes and architecture allow viewers of his paintings to open a window to turn-of-the-century France.  Jac Martin-Ferrières, the artist's son, writes, "Henri Martin was without contest an Impressionist and one who had the deepest sensitiveness, certainly equal to that Monet, whom he most admired.  Their interpretation of nature is certainly, owing to their utmost sensitiveness and not through research of a technical process, a poetical evocation hued by a thousand colors which can undoubtedly be called a work of art" (J. Martin-Ferrières, Henri Martin, Paris, 1967, p. 35).

Ferrières continues, "If I look at a fragment of Henri Martin's canvas... I immediately recognize it.  I see a great number of dots of different colors, as precious and rare as precious stones.  His palette is an enchantment.  Many different interminglings of colors make a rare and rich harmony...  And it is much more difficult to find a good harmony of colors when representing nature than to assemble some nice colors, representing nothing.  In here lies the gift of Impressionists and that is why there are so few" (J. Martin-Ferrières, op. cit. p. 42).