Henri Martin

In 1900, Martin bought a property in Labastide-du-Vert, a small village in North of Cahors near Toulouse. On the thirty acres of land stood a large seventeenth century house, named Marquayrol. Martin became extremely attached to this property. The acquisition of Marquayrol marked a turning point in Martin’s career, he abandoned allegory and myth to fully devote himself to the representation of nature.
As Martin quoted, “My preoccupation with rendering atmospheric effects increased later, after three months in the country, face to face with nature. Trying to capture its diverse effects, I was compelled to paint it differently. The natural light, now brilliant, then diffuse, which softened the contours of figures and landscape, powerfully obliged me to translate it any way I could, but other than using a loaded brush, through pointille and the breaking up of tone.”
In Marquayrol everything was a source of inspiration to Martin and he was very eager to capture the change in light and tones during the day and throughout the seasons.  Henri Martin’s canvases are characteristically joyous expressions of light, color and texture.  His depictions of landscapes and architecture open a window to turn-of-the-century France animated by vivid palettes.  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 of 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).
The present work was painted at Marquayrol, Martin’s summer home overlooking La Bastide du Vert, near Cahors.  It was here that the artist felt most at ease and it is therefore not surprising the landscape inspired many of his most noteworthy compositions. The garden scene depicted highlights Martin’s ability to seamlessly integrate civilization and nature, resulting in a setting that is as unobtrusive as it is harmonious and fluid.  The tranquility of the central reflective basin complements the rhythmic play of color, light and shadow across the canvas.  The linear structure established by the verticality of the tree trunks, the blossoming flowers and the gate is resolved by the horizon and the elliptical basin that draws the composition inward.  Martin employs a painterly technique in a vocabulary of brilliant color to create a unique and vibrant work.

Fig. 1 Marquayrol, Labastide-du-Vert