French Artist Villages: Summer Guide to Impressionist and Modernist Havens
Beaux Arts magazine showcases eight French villages that transformed into havens for artists. Located 30 km from Paris, Auvers-sur-Oise is where Van Gogh spent his last months and lies buried next to his brother. Barbizon, adjacent to Fontainebleau, is associated with the Barbizon school, featuring artists like Corot, Millet, and Rousseau. In 1905, Collioure became the birthplace of Fauvism with Matisse and Derain, later attracting Braque and Signac. Renoir resided in Essoyes after purchasing a house in 1896, which reopened in 2017. Monet settled in Giverny in 1883, known for his water lily pond. Gauguin found inspiration in Pont-Aven, while Chagall was drawn to Saint-Paul-de-Vence. André Breton was enchanted by Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, and Signac adored Saint-Tropez.
Key facts
- Auvers-sur-Oise is 30 km from Paris and was Van Gogh's final residence at Auberge Ravoux.
- Barbizon gave its name to the Barbizon school; its Auberge de Ganne is now a departmental museum.
- Collioure was the birthplace of Fauvism in 1905 with Matisse and Derain.
- Céret is known as the Mecca of Cubism.
- Renoir bought a house in Essoyes in 1896; his studio was built in 1906.
- The Renoir house in Essoyes was bequeathed to the commune in 2012 and reopened in 2017.
- Monet settled in Giverny in 1883 and created his water lily pond.
- Saint-Paul-de-Vence hosts Fondation Maeght and the new Fondation CAB.
- Breton bought the Auberge des Mariniers in Saint-Cirq-Lapopie in the 1950s.
- Saint-Tropez's Musée de l'Annonciade features pointillist, Nabi, and Fauvist works.
Entities
Artists
- Vincent van Gogh
- Charles-François Daubigny
- Claude Monet
- Paul Cézanne
- Camille Pissarro
- Camille Corot
- Jean-François Millet
- Théodore Rousseau
- Rosa Bonheur
- Henri Matisse
- André Derain
- Albert Marquet
- Raoul Dufy
- Georges Braque
- Léonard Foujita
- Juan Gris
- Paul Signac
- Pablo Picasso
- Marc Chagall
- Auguste Renoir
- Aline Charigot
- Sophie Renoir
- Gabrielle (nurse)
- Alfred Sisley
- Auguste Rodin
- Mary Cassatt
- Pierre Bonnard
- Paul Gauguin
- Paul Sérusier
- Émile Bernard
- Jean-Michel Folon
- Fernand Léger
- Joan Miró
- Alberto Giacometti
- Alexander Calder
- André Breton
- Salvador Dalí
- Toyen
- Max Ernst
- Jacques Prévert
- Yves Montand
- James Baldwin
- Lee Miller
- Man Ray
- Paul Éluard
Institutions
- Beaux Arts magazine
- Musée départemental des peintres de Barbizon
- Musée de l'Annonciade
- Musée des Impressionnismes - Giverny
- Fondation Maeght
- Fondation CAB
- Auberge Ravoux
- Auberge de Ganne
- Auberge des Mariniers
- Hôtel des Templiers
- Auberge Baudy
- Colombe d'Or
- Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs
- Chapelle Notre-Dame de Trémalo
- Château d'Auvers
- Maison du docteur Gachet
- Musée de l'absinthe
- Bois d'Amour
Locations
- Auvers-sur-Oise
- France
- Paris
- Barbizon
- Fontainebleau
- Thomery
- Collioure
- Côte Vermeille
- Céret
- Essoyes
- Aube
- Giverny
- Eure
- Vernon
- Pont-Aven
- Brittany
- Concarneau
- Saint-Paul-de-Vence
- Saint-Cirq-Lapopie
- Lot
- Mougins
- Saint-Tropez
- Vieux Port