St. Jeannet French Riviera by Augusta Payne Rathbone

St. Jeannet French Riviera by Augusta Payne Rathbone

St. Jeannet French Riviera

Augusta Payne Rathbone

Please call us at 707-546-7352 or email artannex@aol.com to purchase this item.
Title

St. Jeannet French Riviera

 
Artist
Year
c. 1935  
Technique
etching & color aquatint 
Image Size
10 5/8 x 14 1/2" platemark 
Signature
pencil, lower right 
Edition Size
artist proof; 6/6 
Annotations
pencil editioned; titled on verso 
Reference
illustrated: French Riviera Villages 
Paper
buff Arches wove 
State
published 
Publisher
artist 
Inventory ID
AR303 
Price
$700.00 
Description

The storied village of St. Jeannet is located in the Alpes-Maritimes department of southeast France, about 12.5 miles from Nice. It rests at the foot of the formidable Baou de St. Jeannet, with its secret caves and sheepfolds, and faces the Mediterranean coastline. Though its roots are traced to the medieval times, the majority of its structures and spring-fed fountains were constructed in the mid 17th century.

In the far right of the image Rathbone captures the 18th-century belltower of the Saint-Bernardin chapel, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. The village, facing full south, is brightly lit against the cliff face. The Baou's shape once reminded villagers of a crouching animal, similar to a sphinx, and was rumored to house spirits in its many caves. This led to the belief, as well, that the village was full of witches - now purported to have been healers and midwives who were sought after by people throughout the region.

Rathbone, like Chagall, Matisse, Dufy, and many other artists before her, found inspiration in St. Jeannet, portraying it as a string of light across the bottom third of of the plate, a necklace of pearls and gems resting against the collar of the Baou.

 
Please call us at 707-546-7352 or email artannex@aol.com to purchase this item.