A celebration of Cezanne's remarkable and varied depictions of Provence

Discusses painter Paul Cézanne's 1886 departure from Paris to his native city, Aix-en-Provence, arguing that it was related to French regionalist politics of the time, and shows how the move affected his art.

"A native of Aix-en-Provence by birth, Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) went to Paris for the first time in 1861, at the insistence of his childhood friend Émile Zola. Cézanne decided to become a painter, against his family's advice, determined to make his mark on the Parisian scene that was then intrinsic to any successful artistic career. Paradoxically, Cézanne did not use Paris as a theme for his paintings: he did not represent its streets, its monuments, life in the area, or the great urban transformations taking place, unlike many of his contemporaries, including Caillebotte, Guillaumin, and Pissarro. So was the painter indifferent to this city? Throughout his life, he would make over twenty return trips to Paris from Aix, without ever setting down in the capital, even though some of his stays there were lengthy. So what was Cézanne looking for in Paris? What kind of influence did the capital have on his painting? He had contacts with artistic and intellectual circles that were liberal in both thought and lifestyle, and was he determined at all costs to resist their temptation? Was he drawn by the city's vibrant creative buzz, seeing it as something essential to the development of his art? From a range of viewpoints and using extensive illustrations, this book explores these questions by following the painter's career in Paris and the surrounding area, as well as the motifs he used and pictorial choices he made."--Book jacket.

The award-winning author of VAN GOGH'S GARDENS returns with a sumptuously illustrated book showcasing the garden and art of one of the most significant painters of the Impressionist Era. Acclaimed garden writer and photographer Derek Fell continues his celebrated series with a handsome volume featuring the paintings of Cézanne and stunning photographs of his restored garden, which attracts nearly 100,000 visitors each year. This beautifully illustrated book takes a groundbreaking approach to the man and his art. Using images of Cézanne’s studio and gardens in Aix-en-Provence as a starting point, Fell shares the artist's innovative theories about structure, texture, shadow, and light. Through Cézanne’s musings and philosophy of colour and form - captured vividly by the author - the reader enters the artist's creative world, and visits the vertical and architectural gardens Cézanne loved, along with Mt. Sainte-Victoire, the mountain he immortalized in his paintings. A visually breathtaking tour through Cézanne’s beautifully preserved garden and lavish gardens inspired by his work, the book features over a dozen paintings and more than a hundred original colour photographs. CÉZANNE’S GARDEN is a revealing look at one of the world's most beloved Impressionist masters.

The second contribution to the series that began with

From cities to quaint towns and everything in between, Provence has something for everyone. Swim in the crystal clear waters of the Calanque de Sormiou in Marseille. Drive with the top down through fields of lavender in Valensole. Experience a bite of just-out-of-the-oven fougasse, a Provençal classic. Stand in awe of the beautiful, white Camargue horses native to the area. Located in the South of France, Provence is uniquely positioned to be a cultural blend of the Mediterranean. Roman landmarks still prevail from the 1st century AD alongside châteaus from medieval times—a varied legacy brightened by the indigenous mimosas and cypresses.