'Provencal Plane Trees in Winter' by Max Escalon de Fonton (1946)

'Provencal Plane Trees in Winter', gouache on art paper, by Max Escalon de Fonton (1946). The plane trees found in Provence in the South of France are a hybrid of the Asian and American sycamore trees. They were created, quite by accident out of Oxford, England in the 16th century. In the 19th century, plane trees were imported to Southern France, and planted extensively. The trunk, with its peeling bark, gives the tree its distinctive camouflage appearance. Plane trees gives shade to many squares in Provence and Napoleon ordered them to be planted to give his soldiers shade while marching; there are still many stretches of road throughout the region that are lined with plane trees. In this depiction, the artist shows how they appear in winter, bare of their leaves, while the residents of this village wear extra layers for warmth. There is a wistful quality to this work. The trees, along with with the inhabitants, whom we only see from the rear, are looking forward with longing for the arrival of spring. The artwork is in good overall condition and is newly framed with non-reflective glass. The work is signed and dated in the lower left hand. Please enjoy the many photos accompanying this listing. Upon request, a video will be provided.

About the Artist: Max Escalon de Fonton (1920-2013) was born into a Catholic family in Marseille. Although better known for his archeological discoveries and scholarly articles, as an artist he also skilfully painted gouaches of the towns and landscapes in the South of France. His parents owned a house in Collet-Redon in La Couronne.  He often walked along the coast nearby. Intrigued by a mound whose line did not naturally follow the contour of the land, he decided to excavate and discovered a wall (the Collet Redon deposit). He thought he had come across Gallic ruins which were numerous in the region, then decided to research these in depth. At the end of the Second World War, he resumed his research with friends and substantial equipment. He noted that the pottery he discovered dated from the Neolithic period (around 3,000 or 2,500 BC). This turned out to be the Neolithic site of Collet-Redon. He also discovered a necropolis under a tumulus, an ancient burial mound. 

Dimensions with frame:

H 47 cm / 18.5"

W 39 cm / 15.4"

Dimensions without frame:

H 31.5 cm / 12.4"

W 24.5 cm / 9.6"