Lelee Léo (1872 - 1947) "lou Souleu Me Fai Canta Saint Rémy De Provence" Arles Alpilles Mistral

LELEE Léo (1872 - 1947)

"Lou soulèu me fai canta à Saint Rémy de Provence"

Drawing in ink on brown paper mounted on cardboard,
Signed lower right,

Beautiful and rare drawing by the artist Léo Lelée who interprets the motto of the Provençal poet Frédéric Mistral "Lou souleu me fai canta - The sun makes me sing". Léo Lelée drew the poet's motto, in the foreground, floating on a ribbon resting on an olive branch where a cicada sings.
This interpretation takes up the cicada present in the poet's Felibrian arms.
In the background, you can see the Arc de Triomphe and the Mausoleum of the Antiques of Saint Remy de Provence and the sun beaming down on a summer day.

This drawing may have been used to illustrate a book on the Mistral, a poster...

Born in 1872 in Chemazé in Mayenne, Léo Lelée was a student of Gaston Bertin at the Lycée de Laval, before entering the Ecole des Decorative Arts in Paris and then at the Beaux-Arts where he trained with Pierre Victor Galland, a renowned decorator. After teaching for two years at the School of Industrial Arts in Roubaix, he returned to Paris and made his debut as a poster designer and illustrator for postcards.
It was in 1902 that he discovered Arles and Provence. Under the spell of this land bathed in the sun. He settled there permanently in 1903. He became friends with several Felibres: Baroncelli, Joseph d'Arnaud and Marius Jouveau. He will make many sketches of the streets of Arles and become the painter of the Arlésiennes, tirelessly drawing their costumes and farandoles. He creates a style of great economy of means, a line and softened colors, while capturing details such as the folds of a dress or an attitude.

Most of his works are kept in three places, namely: the Palais du Roure in Avignon, the Muséon Arlaten in Arles and the Musée de la Perrine in Laval.

Dimensions: 14 x 29 cm at sight and 33 x 43.5 cm with its original wooden frame.

Nb / The original mounting of the drawing on its cardboard support has bubbles.

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