DISCOVER the work of the French artist who inspired LS Lowry to draw his 'matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs'.
An exhibition of the work of Adolphe Valette, the French impressionist, is being held at the Lowry Gallery in Salford and he was amongst the first to bring Impressionism to Manchester.
Valette’s canvases are dynamic and powerful, with fog and pollution shrouding buildings, squares, and waterways, with hardly discernible figures hurrying across them, and with light sparkling through the gloom.
Less well known are his light-filled, beautifully coloured landscapes and domestic scenes painted in France, many on show for the first time.
LS Lowry and Valette arrived in the same year, 1905, at the Manchester School of Art, with Valette’s talent very quickly winning over his teachers and he was himself offered a teaching post.
LS Lowry found himself in Valette’s life classes and became his student for ten years
The exhibition explores the relationship between these two artists, showing selected early works and life drawings by LS Lowry.
Valette’s work is celebrated alongside Lowry’s, with a full range of his art, comprising oil paintings, drawings, watercolours and prints.
Adolphe Valette: A Pioneer of Impressionism in Manchester runs from Saturday 15 October, 2011 until Sunday 29 January, 2012 at the Lowry Gallery, Salford.
If you found this useful...
+ Stay up-to-date: Get your free This French Life newsletter
...and the illustration; a Lowry or a Valette?
Posted by: J Roger Clifford-Banks | 14 October 2011 at 16:02
'tis a Valette :)
Posted by: Craig McGinty | 14 October 2011 at 16:23
In which case I might almost suggest plagiarism.
Posted by: J Roger Clifford-Banks | 15 October 2011 at 09:10
The Guardian has described him as 'the Monet of Manchester' http://t.co/WHdWyqge
Posted by: Craig McGinty | 15 October 2011 at 09:21
I've been to see this exhibition on its first day. If the London art critics can only shift their a***s up the M6, then Valette's reputation must be set to take off.
I'm not an exceptionally arty type, but this exhibition was thrilling in that tired word's true, physical meaning.
In Manchester, Valette is always mentioned first as a key influence on Lowry, and this exhibition ( in the space right next door to the large, permanent exhibition of Lowrys) shows exactly how justified that reputation is and what a debt we all owe him for that. The embarassing shock of the exhibition is to suddenly realise how narrow minded our "Oh, yes - Lowry's teacher" reaction is. Valette's paintings are clearly those of a world-class artist, and seeing them gathered together was a joy.
I suspect that the private owners who have lent their Valette's for the exhibition will not be repenting thir generosity. If Mr BS (you know who this apt pair of initials belong to) and his ilke DO condescend to appear, and give this exhibition the write-up it deserves, then the owners will very soon be revising their insurance policies (just add a nought).
Go and see this exhibition - WHEREVER you live. Brits need to see the man who brought impressionism to Manchester. An the French need to find this new artist to be hugely proud of.
PS The one strange disappointment of the exhibition is this. Although so many private owners have lent their Valettes, the biggest and most famous "Impressionist Manchester" paintings, including the wonderful "Albert Square" are missing. And which owner has not released the best Valettes of all to this hugely important exhibition, the best chance in years to give one of Manchester's artists the reputation he deserves at World level ?? Answer: the Manchester Art Gallery!!!!
Art journalists, awake! There's a strange story here - get on the trail.....!
PPS The Lowrys aren't half bad either!
Posted by: Chris Jones | 16 October 2011 at 01:17
Many thanks Chris for your comment and I really hope people are able to visit The Lowry for the exhibition.
It sounds as though it would be well worth people's time.
All the best, Craig
Posted by: Craig McGinty | 16 October 2011 at 08:31
You've chosen a good picture to illustrate the Lowry connection. Have a look at "The Hawker's Cart" by Lowry.....
Good view of it here shttp://www.paulfrasercollectibles.com/News/ART-%26-PHOTOGRAPHY/This-$907,000-Hawker's-Cart-ends-a-good-week-for-artist-LS-Lowry.../7048.page
Posted by: Chris Jones | 17 October 2011 at 08:22