'Women on the Terrace' by Roger Limouse (circa 1960s)

'Women on the Terrace', oil on paper (bonded to canvas), by Roger Limouse (circa 1960s). This artwork renders in impasto the exuberant colours of the Côtes d'Azur. A woman of leisure on a terrace overlooks the exhilarating start of a sailing regatta which is breaching the harbour's breakwater. The second woman enjoys the excitement of the sailboat race.  Beautiful nautical pennants flutter in the breeze over the calm, azure waters of the Mediterranean. Images of the French Riviera conjure up images of glamour, wealth, seductive beaches, mega-yachts, extravagant sports cars and celebrities attempting to stay under the radar. Longtime Cap Ferrat resident Somerset Maugham, who coined the memorable description of the Riviera as “a sunny place for shady people,” wrote in his autobiographical novel, The Razor’s Edge, “The shores of the Mediterranean were littered with royals, lured by the climate, or in exile, or escaping a scandalous past or unsuitable marriage.” The work is in good overall condition and has been recently framed with a French-style linen slip. The original art on paper is bonded to a very solid canvas extending the life of the work for decades to come. Please enjoy the many images of the artwork which accompany the listing. Upon request a video will be provided. Signed in the lower right hand of the painting. 

About the Artist: Roger Limouse (1894-1990) was one of the last Fauvist artists in the School of Paris. He arrived in Paris in 1919 and studied for 3 years at the Académie Julian. He befriended several artists including André de Segonzac (1884-1974), Amédée de La Patellière (1890-1932) and Jean Souverbie (1891-1981). In 1948, Limouse was appointed professor at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He would teach there until 1964. In 1949, the journalist Gisèle d'Assailly (1904-1969) devoted a book to eight painters known for their colourful, intimate figurative artworks including those of Roger Limouse. As an artist with a strong connection to sun-drenched countries, Limouse made many trips to Italy, Spain, Morocco and Madagascar. He also spent much time in the South of France in Cassis, Cannes, Menton and Nice. In 1976, he answered the question “Where does this fondness for colour come from?", Limouse explained: "Probably largely from my childhood spent in Algeria, a country of colours, warm visions, contrasts of lights and shadows, but also, I experienced a certain sensuality of colour ... colour is life." Today Limouse's artworks can command  breathtaking prices at auction including a work that exceeded 100,000 € at a major European auction house. 

Dimensions with frame:

H 47.5 cm / 18.7"

W 39 cm / 15.4"

Dimensions without frame:

H 37 cm / 14.6"

W 28 cm / 11"