Auguste Michel Colle (1872-1949) Bar Le Duc 1906. Pointillist Lorraine, Nancy, Peccatte, Prouvé

New large oil/cardboard from a series of 2 by Auguste Michel Colle representing a view of Bar Le Duc in autumn circa 1905/1906, signed and located lower right, from the collection of Victor Prouvé, old label on the back (Prouvé / Colle 35) + old exhibition label "name: Michel Colle, Address: Nancy quai de la Bataille Title of the work: Bar le Duc autumn Year of the first exhibition: 1906". Format of the painting alone without frame 90x57cm This is therefore a new divisionist painting by Michel Colle which represents a view of his region, Bar le Duc in autumn in 1905/1906, the style used is emblematic of the painter, in fact we immediately recognize the Michel Colle paste thanks to its very particular touch, slightly divided, but also its palette rich in yellows, ochres, pinks, oranges, intense blues, greens .... In short, a new major work by the painter, I advise you to go see my 2 other paintings for sale, the shell collector and the view of the Twins in Hendaye. Painter born in 1872 in Baccarat and died in Batz sur Mer in 1949. Orphaned in 1885, he became an apprentice at the Baccarat crystal works as a gilder, then engraver of plates for chemical engraving. It was at this time that he developed a taste for drawing and painting, encouraged by Charles Peccatte, a painter from Lorraine who was also a native of Baccarat. An astute art lover, Eugène Corbin, having noticed his work, introduced him to the painters Charles de Meixmoron de Dombasle, Émile Friant and Victor Prouvé (then a professor at the School of Fine Arts in Nancy). In the analysis of the 1904 Salon it is said: "M. COLLE (born in Baccarat): Baccarat, September Evening We must pay attention to M. COLLE. His beginning is of high value. With a powerful softness that recalls certain old tapestries, he shows us Baccarat on a beautiful autumn evening. A few trees stand out, all penetrated by shadow. The church, the old square tower of Voués, the tiled roofs are lit up by a golden or rather orange ray that is a caress. In this very simple, almost naive art, there is a singular beauty. M. COLLE must not hesitate: the path he is taking is a good one." He married in 1905 the sister of Victor Prouvé's wife. Under contract with Corbin until 1911, he painted nearly 500 canvases or watercolors, most of which were inspired by the landscapes of his native region. Later, Colle wanted to know other regions, and traveled often and found inspiration in Savoy, Corsica and North Africa. The Parisian Salons gave him the opportunity to meet Jules Adler, Jean-Paul Laurens and Charles Cottet. At the Nancy Salon of 1905, the magazine "Le Pays Lorrain" said: "and then it is Mr. COLLE who captures the most exquisite moments of the day, the most troubling aspects of the seasons, his Malzéville canal is a whole poem of gentle clarity, of infinite calm; we also like his Cathedral of Toul seen under the gloomy sky of a foggy day, it is moving in its calm simplicity " For this same Nancy Salon of 1906, let us take up the report of what the artist proposed in the "Revue lorraine illustrée": At the Parisian Salon of the "Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts" of 1907, he was again noticed by "La revue lorraine illustrée" which said: "Mr. COLLE who also has the great merit of seeking exclusively in Lorraine his subjects of study, shows us a "View of Nancy" taken in winter, from the bell tower of Saint Epvre. No one esteems more than I the originality of Mr. COLLE's talent which owes nothing but to the direct study of nature, and the merits of a technique which was formed slowly, laboriously, loyally. I realize the considerable difficulty of the subject and how sincere this study of light, seeking to pierce the fogs that envelop the city, is. But this very estimable effort leads to a result that is only half-satisfying. Mr. COLLE would recognize it himself, no doubt." At the Parisian Salon of French Artists in 1909, he exhibited an oil on canvas "At the Parc Sainte Marie in Nancy - autumn", in 1912 "The chestnut trees of Jacob (Chambéry-Savoie)" in 1913 "Autumn in Champigneulles, after the morning fog" and in 1914 "Sunrise in September, at La Trinité-sur_Mer" At the end of the First World War, during a family stay in Brittany, he was captivated by the light of the salt marshes and the landscapes of the Guérande peninsula. This revelation transformed his palette and diversified the techniques used, some canvases were pointillist, others treated with a knife. Every year he spent his summer stays in the Croisic region. He exhibited at the Salon des artistes français, the Salon des indépendants, the Salon des Tuileries, in The Hague… without this changing the rhythm regularity of his work and his attachment to his family life. At the 1929 Salon, he exhibited two oils on canvas "Vandoeuvre, October evening in Lorraine" and "H orodberg, Munster". In 1932, he presented views of Vandoeuvre and flowers taken on the spot at the Pépinière - it was said in the Pays Lorrain in 1932: "to this honest artist the Cross of the Legion of Honor has just been awarded, it is the fitting crowning of a life entirely devoted to art, painting and decorative art, because he was first a decorator on crystals." To that of 1933, the daily newspaper l'Est Républicain said: "Michel Colle always enchants us with his contrasts of light and shadow. He shows us "Pointe Pescade Alger" and a wonderful view of his hometown "Baccarat". In 1940, he settled permanently in the village of Kervalet, near Batz-sur-Mer. The difficulties of life during the Second World War encouraged him to diversify his themes of inspiration: church interiors, portraits, etc. It was there that he died in September 1949. Works by this artist are preserved in the Museums of Nantes, Nancy, Strasbourg and Saint Dié as well as in the Senate in Paris. A major retrospective exhibition was organized at the Pierre Noël Museum in Saint Dié in 2009 "From the lights of Lorraine to the colors of Brittany" In 1906, he contacted Claude Monet who replied: "L.A.S. "Claude Monet", Giverny [April 8, 1906], to A.M. COLLE in Nancy; 2 pages in-8 in purple ink, envelope. Curious letter in which he rejects the title of impressionist. [Michel-Auguste COLLE (1872-1949) is a painter from Lorraine, who painted many landscapes of his native region.] He received his two letters, "but very busy" was unable to reply sooner. "What you are asking me is very serious and delicate. I certainly do not want to refuse you, and I only ask you to let me know in advance when you want to come, because if I am at work, I will be unable to receive you, so that I can set the day and time for you myself"... And he adds in a postscript: "You seem to me to be particularly attached to this title of impressionist, which does not mean much and has given rise to so much nonsense" The succession of his patron Eugène Corbin and that of his brother Louis Corbin took place in May 1986 ((6 drawings and 20 paintings by Mr. Colle), February 1987 and April 2005 (8 paintings by Mr. Colle) for Eugène and in October 1936 (2 paintings by Colle) for Louis. Between October 5 and 30, 1971, the Kaplan Gallery in London organized a major exhibition-sale of works by Colle with 33 oils by the artist. From June 14 On November 16, 2014, the Salt Marsh Museum of Batz sur Mer organized an exhibition "Lights in the Presqu'ile - Michel COLLE, painter in Kervalet" bringing together some works from the Lorraine period but especially many oils from the artist's Breton period Bibl.: "Wikipedia.org" "Michel COLLE - From the lights of Lorraine to the colors of Brittany" Pierre-Noel Museum Saint Dié des Vosges July 4 - September 20, 2009 "Lights in the Presqu'ile - Michel COLLE, painter in Kervalet" Batz sur Mer Salt Marsh Museum 2014 "Illustrated biographical dictionary of Meurthe et Moselle" Paris 1910 You will also find in the "Pays lorrain" review several articles concerning the artist: Volume 80 of July-September 1999 pp. 224 Volume of January 1, 1936 "La Lorraine vue par Michel-Auguste COLLE" La Gazette de l'Hotel Drouot June 20, 2003. This painting is in very good original condition, recently cleaned, delivered in its natural wooden baguette of the time Work guaranteed authentic