International studio (34.1908)

Gaston La Touche

spirit of mural painting, his voluntary sacrifice of
the small detail which had to disappear. The big
panels he did for the Ministry of Agriculture (re-
produced in Ti-ie Studio for last July) are, by
reason of their size and the labour involved, the
artist’s principal works. These, however, may not
be in the exhibition, for they are too large for easy
transport; but we shall at least see other charming
decorations, such as the large panel F Et'e, in
which, giving the colourist within him full rein,
the artist depicts some admirable figures, seated
around a fountain, preparing to enter the water
among the swans.
Admirably inspired by Victor Hugo’s poem La
Fete chez Therese the artist has conceived and exe-
cuted a charming decoration for the abode of the
poet Edmond Rostand, in which by the manner
in which he has disposed the groups he seems
desirous of showing his kinship with Monticelli,

already alluded to. La Touche’s decorations are
ordinarily executed as commissions with a definite
object; but very often he does things of this kind
solely for the pleasure of painting. Modestly
styled essais decoratifs, these are by no means the
least alluring of his productions.
One of his most recent series, including certain
works produced about the end of last year, may be
called Les Nuits. After Whistler’s nocturnes, I do
not think I have seen anything so fascinating as
these clear summer nights lit up either by starry
sky or street lights, now green, now pearly grey,
now violet of a very special quality. They repre-
sent harbour scenes at Genoa and Marseilles, foun-
tains at Versailles or the Tuileries, and are worthy
of celebration by the pen of Rene' Boylesve.
La Touche styles a whole series of his works
Traits de Mot.urs, and herein he often gives us in
the execution of his figures a delicate touch of wit


“l’heure doree, ou l’heure mysterieuse

BY GASTON LA TOUCHE

276

( Collection Chouanard)