Ras Moulay Ali, (603 m-1 978 fr)
Morocco
In "Tassa, Haut Sexaoua, Grand Atlas, le Ras Moulay Ali", Technique mixte rehaussée d'or et d'argent,1929
About the painting
In 1926 Majorelle undertook a journey across the Kasbahs of the Atlas. Tassa, easily recognized by its impressive terrace-like layout, was a frequent source of inspiration for Majorelle in the course of 1929. His use of an elaborate technique of tempera with gold and silver highlights adds a strong graphic dimension to the painting. Applying black and ochre highlights, Majorelle subtly hints to the warm lighting of sunset, which accentuates the volume effect, highlighting the terraces and the Great-Atlas in the background. Also, the greenery diffuses an impression of coolness which is in stark contrast with the consuming heat of the dry mineral landscape.“His new compositions exude a distinctive penchant for neatness and simplicity, immense precision and an effort in researching a voluntarily decorative layout. His fifty compositions were drawn with implacable rigor. The coloring appears in mellow hues and muted shades, which once highlighted with gold and silver, invigorate the entire composition with rich, stirring intemporality” In November 1930, in parallel with an exhibition of seventy drawings and paintings of Kasbahs held at the Renaissance gallery, a book containing thirty views of Kasbahs was also published.
(cf, Félix Marcilhac, La vie et l'œuvre de Jacques Majorelle (1886 - 1962), ed.ACR, 1995, p.137-138)
The painter
Jacques Majorelle son of the celebrated Art Nouveau furniture designer Louis Majorelle, was a French painter. He studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Nancy in 1901 and later at the Académie Julian in Paris with Schommer and Royer. Majorelle became a noted Orientalist painter, but is most remembered for constructing the villa and gardens that now carry his name, Les Jardins Majorelle in Marrakech.
In around 1917 he travelled to Morocco to recover from heart problems and after short period spent in Casablanca, he visited Marrakech, where he fell in love with the vibrant colours and quality of light he found there. Initially, he used Marrakech as a base for trips to Spain, Italy and other parts of North Africa, including Egypt. Eventually, however, he settled in Marrakech permanently.
He drew inspiration for his paintings from his trips and from Marrakesch itself. His paintings include many street scenes, souks and kasbahs as well as portraits of local inhabitants. He opened a handicrafts workshop in Marrakech and also designed posters to promote travel to Morocco. His work was profoundly affected by his voyages around the Mediterannean and North Africa. He introduced a more coloured vision, bathed in light where the drawing disappears and the image emerges from large spots of colour laid flat. It seemed as if he had discoved the sun in these countries. His style exhibited more freedom and spontaneity.
In 1919, he married Andrée Longueville and the pair lived in an apartment near the Jemâa el-Fna Square (then at the palace of Pasha Ben Daoud). In 1923, Jacques Majorelle bought a four acre plot, situated on the border of a palm grove in Marrakech and in 1931, he commissioned the architect, Paul Sinoir, to design a Cubist villa for him. He gradually purchased additional land, extending his holding by almost 10 acres. In the grounds around the residence, Majorelle began planting a luxuriant garden which would become known as the Jardins Majorelle or Majorelle Garden. He continued to work on the garden for almost forty years. The garden is often said to be the his finest work. Majorelle developed a special shade of the colour blue, which was inspired by the blue tiles prevalent in southern Morocco. This colour was used extensively in Majorelle's house and garden, and now carries his name; Majorelle Blue.
The garden proved costly to run and in 1947, Majorelle opened the garden to the public with an admission fee designed to defray the cost of maintenance. He sold the house and land in the 1950s, after which it fell into disrepair.
Majorelle was sent to France for medical treatment in 1962 following a car accident, and died in Paris, later that year of complications from his injuries. He is buried in Nancy, the place of his birth.
During his lifetime, many of Majorelle's paintings were sold to private buyers and remain in private collections. Some of his early works can be found in Museums around his birthplace such as the Musée de l'Ecole de Nancy. Examples of his later work can be seen in the Mamounia Hotel, Marrakesch, the French Consulate of Marrakech and in the Villa at the Majorelle Gardens.
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2022 - Wandering Vertexes...
by Francis Rousseau
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