Paul Cézanne was blessed in many ways. He had advantages of which many artists could only dream. His family was wealthy, with a fortune built on hat making and banking and more than sufficient to support their son in his lifelong work to develop and hone his talent. A son for the army, another for the church, so why not one for the artistic pursuit.
This freedom to practice and learn without fearing where the next meal was coming from may be one of the reasons that Cezanne, the bridge from impressionism to cubism was able to be so influential. Patti Smith says the most inportant factor leading to success as an artist is to apply oneself to ones work. Cézanne, reputed to spend hours contemplating the next brush stroke surely applied this principle.
His last studio was meticulously designed to enable his work to prosper. It has been lovingly restored, and is filled with iconic elements which appear many times in his works. A green pottery vase, a spherical ginger jar and a plaster cherub are familiar to students of his works.
And the studio is withing walking distance of his beloved Montagne Sainte-Victoire, which rises majestically over the surrounding countryside. And is even more impressive when viewed from the hamlet of Le Tholonet at its foot.
This freedom to practice and learn without fearing where the next meal was coming from may be one of the reasons that Cezanne, the bridge from impressionism to cubism was able to be so influential. Patti Smith says the most inportant factor leading to success as an artist is to apply oneself to ones work. Cézanne, reputed to spend hours contemplating the next brush stroke surely applied this principle.
His last studio was meticulously designed to enable his work to prosper. It has been lovingly restored, and is filled with iconic elements which appear many times in his works. A green pottery vase, a spherical ginger jar and a plaster cherub are familiar to students of his works.
And the studio is withing walking distance of his beloved Montagne Sainte-Victoire, which rises majestically over the surrounding countryside. And is even more impressive when viewed from the hamlet of Le Tholonet at its foot.