Louis-François Cassas (1756 – Versailles 1827)
Pen and ink. Watercolour on paper.
France, End of 18th century.
Measurements:
Height: 26,3 in
Width: 40,2 in
Our watercolour presents an animated scene in background of the Jupiter's Temple in an abundant decoration of greenery. On the front we can see a group of Turkish characters discussing at the edge of a river. This scene is a view of Baalbek in Lebanon and we can find a similar example in the Louis-François Cassas’ book « Voyage pittoresque de la Syrie, de la Phœnicie, de la Palestine et de la Basse Egypte ».
At the 18th century, the taste for great expeditions carries men towards new regions and oldest cultures. Indeed, China fascinates, Pompéi and Herculanum inspire all the artists and the Middle East is the symbol of a dreamed exoticism. Young aristocrats launch out in “Le grand tour” through all Europe but especially towards Italy and Greece. Artists travel more and more far and some of them follow famous lords who wish to preserve pictures of their periplus throughout the world and which employ them to paint, to draw or engrave landscapes they discover.
Louis-François Cassas (student of Vien), was draughtsman for the ambassador of France, the count de Choiseul-Gouffier, in Lebanon and he collaborated in the “Voyages Pittoresques” for prayer of Saint-Non in Sicily. He visited Le Caire in 1785 and did a journey in Syria from 1784 to 1787. He came back ton France in 1792.
This painter bequeaths us an exceptional testimony of these trips, especially with regard to the Middle East. He contributed to propagate the taste for Antiquity and the Mediterranean East.
Its landscapes represent this new taste for the idealized and free nature, against gardens said “ à la Française” in vogue since the 17th century and the building of “Vaux-Le-Vicomte” or Versailles.
Louis-François Cassas is not only a painter of landscape and our watercolour proves it. Indeed, it represents a landscape where nature is luxuriant and free but the purpose of its presence is to be useful for a case for an animated scene and to emphasize these two ancient architectures.
Nowadays, we can find works of art by Louis-François Cassas at Musée d’Orléans and at Musée de Valenciennes.