Léon Detroy (1859-1955) Masts And Boat Ropes 1905. Crozant, Gargilesse, Agay, Signac School

2nd and last drawing by Léon Detroy, a charcoal and colored pencil drawing representing the ropes and masts of fishing boats near Menton circa 1905/1909, signed by the artist at the bottom right and studio stamp on the back of the sheet. Single sheet size without frame 48x61cm This is a sublime 2nd charcoal and colored pencil drawing by Léon Detroy who here paints the rigging of fishing boats in a port in the Mediterranean, most likely Menton; surely a study for a series of oils made in Menton, I attach in the last photo reproductions of oils of similar subjects, we recognize the mountains on the horizon. Made between 1905 and 1909 approximately, we immediately recognize Detroy's pencil stroke from this period, with broad strokes, very voluptuous drawing, obviously in the spirit of Signac, Cross etc... I sold a first drawing on an identical subject a few weeks ago (you can go see my ad) A great painter among the greats, I will only briefly present Léon Detroy, leader with Guillaumin, of the now famous Crozant School. With Guillaumin, these 2 painters will share the honors, the students, the friends but also the sites of the Creuse valley, Detroy being more attached to Gargilesse and its surroundings, when Guillaumin was more for Crozant and its surroundings. So first settled in Crozant, then in Fresselines and Gargilesse, he will become an essential figure of the Creuse valley. He had studied in Paris alongside Lebourg, like the latter, he left school quite quickly, too academic for him. He met Creuse around 1888, after reading George Sand, and there he met Maurice Rollinat, Monet and became friends with Alluaud with whom he shared trips to Italy or Agay where he met other great painters of the time, such as Valtat, Van den Eckout, Anquetin etc... who remained faithful to him all their lives. He had the recognition of many artists and critics of the time, Salmon, Wilette... His techniques evolved throughout his life; he will adopt the touch, then become almost Fauve with a broader touch, then mix small touches and large flat areas like here, until stylizing his motifs, whether in Creuse, on the Côte d'Azur, in Collioure, in Italy, in the Maghreb, in Holland, Belgium, Brittany etc... he was therefore a great traveler, but it will be the shores of the Mediterranean that will attract the artist the most. At the end of his career, settled in Gargillesse, he will only do still lifes, but they will have had a very important part in his career, some will be real masterpieces, as much as his landscapes; this one proves it to us once again. And even at the end of his life, the charm will continue to work as his painting remains TRUE and SINCERE! Finally recognized as one of the greatest painters of the Creuse Valley, if not the greatest, his popularity continues to grow, even more so since the recent exhibition and the excellent work of Pascal Goes published by Les Ardents éditeurs: "Léon Detroy, a post-impressionist, from the lights of the south to the Creuse Valley" This drawing is in very good condition for its 120 years, some slight traces of shading but nothing serious, delivered framed in an old solid oak baguette and Marie-Louise (photo with frame to come later) Work guaranteed authentic