Lifestyle
Cezanne seascape mural discovered at artist's childhood home
Entrée du port (Entrance to the Port), a previously unknown mural discovered at Paul Cezanne’s childhood home in Aix-en-Provence
Ville d’Aix-en-Provence / Philippe Biolatto
hide caption
toggle caption
Ville d’Aix-en-Provence / Philippe Biolatto
Entrée du port (Entrance to the Port), a previously unknown mural discovered at Paul Cezanne’s childhood home in Aix-en-Provence
Ville d’Aix-en-Provence / Philippe Biolatto
A mural by Paul Cezanne has been discovered at the artist’s family home, Bastide du Jas de Bouffan, in Aix-en-Provence, France.
The previously unknown large-scale artwork by the great Post-Impressionist painter, which experts are referring to as Entrée du port (Entrance to the Port), is in poor condition. It was hidden under layers of wallpaper, plaster and paint. But despite the gaping hole at its center, the composition clearly depicts a harbor scene with boats and buildings set against a streaked white and blue sky.
Contractors uncovered the artwork during renovations at Bastide du Jas de Bouffan last August in preparation for upcoming celebrations centering on Cezanne’s connection to Aix.
In an interview with NPR, Cezanne scholar Mary Tompkins Lewis said she learned about the discovery as part of a small group of experts who visited the property last September. “We were just thunderstruck,” Tompkins Lewis said. “It was a very exciting moment.”
However, local authorities in Aix only officially announced the find earlier this month. “We were sworn to secrecy,” Tompkins Lewis said.
According to the Société Paul Cézanne (Paul Cezanne Association), the composition is one of 14 artworks (counting works in fragments) discovered on the walls of the Grand Salon at the Cezanne family home. The artist’s father purchased the property in 1859 and allowed his son to experiment liberally in the space with his brushes and paints over the decade.
The young man took the opportunity to test his skills by imitating the works of other painters including the French artists Gustave Courbet and Nicolas Lancret, and the Dutch artist Jacob van Ruisdael.
“The artwork expands our understanding of how the artist developed his style,” said Tompkins Lewis, noting the probable influence of Claude-Joseph Vernet, an 18th-century French painter well known for his harbor scenes, on Cezanne’s Entrée du port. “We really see him grow up from a provincial painter trying to please his father to this young rebellious artist who would take on the world in Paris.”
In an interview with NPR, Société Paul Cézanne president Denis Coutagne said the other Cezanne murals discovered on the walls of the salon were removed from the property over the years. These works are now housed in various institutions around the world, such as the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, France; the Nakata Museum in Onomichi, Japan; and the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Va.
But Coutagne said the fate of Entrée du port will be different.
“This mural that we discovered, we’re going to leave it; we’re going to keep it there,” Coutagne said. “It’s the result of continuous restoration work on the Grand Salon, with a view to its reopening in 2025.”
American model Carol Alt was only 22 years old — and 5′ 11″ — when she shot to stardom after she was featured on the cover of the 1982 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.
Alt was featured in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle and Cosmopolitan, as well as, scoring sought after ad campaigns like Cover Girl, Hanes, Givenchy and Diet Pepsi.
Fireworks, by Matthew Burgess and illustrated by Cátia Chien has won the Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children, and All the Blues in the Sky, written by Renée Watson has been awarded the Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature.
Clarion Books; Bloomsbury Children’s Books
hide caption
toggle caption
Clarion Books; Bloomsbury Children’s Books
The best books for children and young adults were awarded the country’s top honors by the American Library Association on Monday.
Illustrator Cátia Chien and author Matthew Burgess took home the Caldecott Medal for the book Fireworks. The Caldecott is given annually to the most distinguished American picture book for children. Fireworks follows two young siblings as they eagerly await the start of a July 4th fireworks show. Paired with Chien’s vibrant illustrations, Burgess’ poetic language enhances the sensory experience of fireworks.” When you write poems with kids, you see how immediately they get this,” Burgess told NPR in 2025 in a conversation about his book Words with Wings and Magic Things. “If you read a poem aloud to kids, they start to dance in their seats.”
The Newbery Medal, awarded for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature, went to Renée Watson for All the Blues in the Sky. This middle-grade novel, also told in verse, follows 13-year-old Sage, who struggles with grief following the death of her best friend. Watson is also the author of Piecing Me Together, which won the 2018 Coretta Scott King Award and was also a Newbery Medal honor book. “I hope that my books provide space for young people to explore, and say, “Yeah, I feel seen,” Watson told NPR in 2018. “That’s what I want young people to do — to talk to each other and to the adults in their lives.”
This year’s recipients of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards include Will’s Race for Home by Jewell Parker Rhodes (author award) and The Library in the Woods, by Calvin Alexander Ramsey and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie (illustrator award). Arriel Vinson’s Under the Neon Lights received the Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe Award for New Talent.
Los Angeles based artist Kadir Nelson was honored with the Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. His work has appeared in more than 30 children’s books.
This year’s Newbery Honor Books were The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli, by Karina Yan Glaser; A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez by María Dolores Águila and The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story by Daniel Nayeri.
Caldecott Honors books were Every Monday Mabel by Jashar Awan, Our Lake by Angie Kang, Stalactite & Stalagmite: A Big Tale from a Little Cave by Drew Beckmeyer, and Sundust by Zeke Peña.
Edited by Jennifer Vanasco and Beth Novey.
The FBI conducts a search at the Fulton County election office in Georgia
Knife-wielding nut allegedly asked Christian his religion – then stabbed him and dog before police shot him
House Republicans blast Noem impeachment resolution as ‘partisan stunt,’ as Dems fail to reach across aisle
Brother killed after teen becomes ‘enraged’ over video game, stabs sibling: police
Rep Maxwell Frost allegedly assaulted at Sundance Film Festival in racially charged incident
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
The FBI conducts a search at the Fulton County election office in Georgia
Graham pushes back on Tillis’ criticism of Noem, Miller for labeling man killed by Border Patrol a ‘terrorist’
North Korea’s Kim to outline plans to boost nuclear arsenal
Rep. Ilhan Omar rushed by man on stage and sprayed with liquid at town hall event
Video: F.A.A. Ignored Safety Concerns Prior to Collision Over Potomac, N.T.S.B. Says
-
Illinois6 days agoIllinois school closings tomorrow: How to check if your school is closed due to extreme cold
-
Pittsburg, PA1 week agoSean McDermott Should Be Steelers Next Head Coach
-
Pennsylvania2 days agoRare ‘avalanche’ blocks Pennsylvania road during major snowstorm
-
Lifestyle1 week agoNick Fuentes & Andrew Tate Party to Kanye’s Banned ‘Heil Hitler’
-
Sports1 week agoMiami star throws punch at Indiana player after national championship loss
-
Cleveland, OH1 week agoNortheast Ohio cities dealing with rock salt shortage during peak of winter season
-
Technology6 days agoRing claims it’s not giving ICE access to its cameras
-
Science1 week agoContributor: New food pyramid is a recipe for health disasters