Ambroise Vollard: Studio in the Morning/Afternoon

"Summer" by Renoir

"Fantin, Degas and Renoir were all alike in this really. With all of them it was always, studio in the morning, studio in the afternoon. I shall never forget the astonishment of a celebrated art critic, who had said to Degas: 'I'll come and see you at your studio.' 'Yes,' said Degas, 'but at the end of the day, when it's dark.'' Which shows how little Degas could bear to be interrupted in his work.

Now, Renoir did not mind visitors. Their presence did not prevent him from going on with his painting. Even at the end of a year's work, when Renoir took a holiday it was still a case of studio in the morning, studio in the afternoon, except that on fine days the studio was the open country.

As for Degas, during the rare holidays he allowed himself, he usually went to Saint-Valery-sur-Somme to his friends. He cared for the country only as a place to walk in. He was to be seen marching up and down the garden paths, his eyes protected by large dark spectacles, and taking the greatest care to avoid the flower beds. As is well known, he hated flowers on account of their perfume.

I surprised him one day when I had gone to see him in the midst of painting one of those landscapes that used to stagger Pissarro père. The painter was working with his back to the window. 'But, M. Degas,' I said, 'seeing the truth with which you represent nature, who would suppose that you do it by turning your back to her?' 'Oh, M. Vollard, when I'm in the train, you know, I do now and then put my nose out of the window.'"

To be continued

(Excerpts from "Recollections of a Picture Dealer" by Ambroise Vollard.)