Albert Henry Robinson 1881 - 1956

Watson Art Galleries, Montreal

Archie Laing, Toronto

E. Alma and L.T. Porter Collection, St. Andrews East, Quebec

Private Collection, Spain

A little before the Great War broke out, Robinson and his good friend and fellow Montrealer Alex Jackson were in France, studying art and painting in different locales. This canvas, which is from late 1912 or possibly early 1913 is a nocturne done at St. Servan, once a neighbouring village of St. Malo in Brittany, but now amalgamated with it. It was a popular place for artists to paint, and painters as diverse as J.W. Morrice and the American leader of the Ash Can school, Robert Henri, could be found there. Perhaps the area had a particular appeal to Canadians, since Jacques Cartier lived here and from its port he sailed on his voyage of discovery to what is now Canada.

Robinson's signature style is already evident in this fine painting. The set of his palette is distinctive, even considering the muted tones and shadowy cast that the nocturne naturally required. Even so, the articulation of each part of the painting is well defined. The range of colours is surprisingly wide upon close inspection, but includes the mauves and maroons and warm grays that Robinson regularly put to exceptionally good purpose. The composition has been animated, too, by the light from a couple of lanterns as well as by  the pervasive moonlight. The scintillating reflections in the water lead the viewer into the painting and up to the chief focus of the work on the café or bistro behind the boat. Robinson has cleverly accented this central point with red highlights.