Albert Marquet

Albert Marquet (27 March 1875 – 14 June 1947) was a French artist who lived and worked in Paris for many years; he was associated with the Fauvist movement and was a lifelong friend of Henri Matisse. Marquet subsequently painted in a more naturalistic style, primarily the city Paris and landscapes, but also portraits and female nudes.

Quotes

I painted only [in pure colours] at Arcueil and at the Luxembourg Gardens.
- As quoted by J. P. Crespelle, The Fauves, Oldbourne Press, London 1962, p. 66
- one of the paintings which Marquet painted in 1898 at the Luxembourg Gardens was titled simply 'Le Luxembourg', see: Francois Fosca, Albert Marquet (Paris: Editions Nouvelle Revue Francois, 1922), pl, 16.

Henri Matisse and I were already working, before the 1900 Exhibition, as far back as 1898, in what was later to be called the Fauve style.
- As quoted by J. E. Müller, Le Fauvisme, Paris, Hazan, 1956, p. 18
- [Marquet's quote refers to the Spring and Summer of 1898 - after the death of their common Paris' art-teacher Gustave Moreau; Marquet was then painting together with Henri Matisse ].

Our first Salon des Independants, where I think we [Matisse and Marquet] were the only two painters to express ourselves in pure colors, was in 1901.
- Gordon Brown, 'Albert Marquet', Arts Magazine Vol. 46, November 1971, p. 49.

It has happened that I have begun a canvas in a brilliant tonality, going on to finish it in a grey notation. (1898)
- As quoted by J. E. Müller, Le Fauvisme, Paris, Hazan, 1956, p. 92

..the Matisse of long ago, so alert, such a battler, always giving as good as he got.
- As quoted by Hilary Spurling 'The Unknown Matisse: Man of the North, 1869 – 1908', Penguin UK, 28 Sep, 2006, note 47
- In this quote Marquet looked back long afterwards to the late night conversations with Henri Matisse on the stairs of 19 Quai St. Michel

Let's leave the studio and go watch what moves..
- Marquet quoted by his wife Marcelle, in 'Exposition Albert Marquet', Musee Jenisch, p. 8; as cited in Albert Marquet and the Fauve movement; 1898-1908, Norris Judd, Thesis (A.B.), published by Sweet Briar College, May, 1976 – - digitized by Internet Archive, 2010, p. 52
- [comment of his wife: Marquet frequently said this to his companions; he rarely appeared in the studio of his art teacher Gustave Moreau for any length of time because he felt ill at ease there. He preferred to sketch in the streets of Paris with w:Charles Camoin or w:Henri Manguin.

I was certain that they [ Poussin's paintings which Marquet copied frequently in the 1880's] would never bore me.
- as quoted by Mikhail Guerman, in Albert Marquet – The Paradox of Time, Parkstone Aurora Publishers, Bournemouth England, 1995, p. 11

Painting, even if we call it bad, if it is what helps to keep someone alive, how can we condemn it?
- Marcelle Marquet, Marquet, Fernand Hazan Editions, Paris 1955, p. 3; as quoted in 'Appendix – Marquet Speaks on his Art' in "Albert Marquet and the Fauve movement, 1898-1908", Norris Judd, published 1976, - translation Norris Judd - Thesis (A.B.)--Sweet Briar College, p. 116

I do not know how to write or speak but only to paint and draw. Look at what I have done. Whether I have succeeded in explaining myself or not, in any case, if you do not understand my work, through your fault or mine, I can do no more.
- Marcelle Marquet, Marquet Fernand Hazan Editions, Paris 1955, p. 6; as quoted in 'Appendix – Marquet Speaks on his Art', in "Albert Marquet and the Fauve movement, 1898-1908", Norris Judd, published 1976, - translation Norris Judd - Thesis (A.B.)--Sweet Briar College, p. 116

When I draw, 1 am as pre-occupied before a gas-jet as before a human being.
- Lane, The Paintings of Albert Marquet p. 188; as quoted in 'Appendix' of Albert Marquet and the Fauve movement, 1898-1908, Norris Judd, published 1976, - translation Norris Judd - Thesis (A.B.)--Sweet Briar College, p. 116

It is in working [= painting] that you will find yourself..
- Quotes by Marcelle Marquet; as cited in Exposition Marquet, Musee des Beaux Arts Nancy, Juin - July, 1959, p. 18 (transl. Norris Judd)

Over the course of the war I came to understand a lot. The Communists are right.. .It's terrible that many people haven't understood anything and want to return everything back..
- from the memoirs of Ilya Ehrenburg; as quoted by Mikhail Guerman, in Albert Marquet – The Paradox of Time, Parkstone Aurora Publishers, Bournemouth England, 1995, p. 82
- Ilya Ehrenburg wrote that Marquet said him this shortly after the War, in 1946.

Quotes about Albert Marquet

At work, he narrowed his eyes, closed one eye, then the other, taking advantage of the fact of not having the same vision in both, and then born up by a force which hardened his face and his glance, he appeared in all his singleness of purpose.
- Marcelle Marquet [his wife], as quoted in 'Albert Marquet', San Francisco Museum of Art Bulletin, p. 11.
- Marcelle Marquet wrote a biography of her husband: Marquet, published in 1956 by Fernand Hazan Editions, France

..a sort of vengeful rage [Marcelle Marquette about Marquet's early street drawings.
- Marcelle Marquet, as quoted by Hilary Spurling The Unknown Matisse: Man of the North, 1869 – 1908, Penguin UK, 28 Sep, 2006, note 48
- Marcelle Marquet is describing the early street drawings which Albert Marquet made

It was not his fault that what was exciting to him was of no interest to others, and if his timidity prevented him from explaining himself.
- Marcelle Marquet, in 'Exposition Albert Marquet', Musee Jenisch, p. 7; as quoted in Albert Marquet and the Fauve movement; 1898-1908, Norris Judd, Thesis (A.B.), published by Sweet Briar College, May, 1976 – - digitized by Internet Archive, 2010, p. 49

The [Albert] Marquet of my youth [till c. 1904].. ..was a fighter, reliable, rock-steady, a sure companion.
- Henri Matisse, as cited by Henri Manguin / Elie Faure, 14 Dec 1904, JPM; as quoted by w:Hilary Spurling The Unknown Matisse: Man of the North, 1869 – 1908, Penguin UK, 28 Sep, 2006, note 93

When I look at Hokusai, I think of Marquet - and vice versa... ...I don't mean imitation of Hokusai, I mean similarity with him.
- Henri Matisse [looking back], as cited by w:Hilary SpurlingHilary Spurling, in The Unknown Matisse, University of California Press, (2001), p. 224. ISBN 0520222032

The colors, exceptionally violent, have cleared a well-known path.. ..Everything has gone according plan, as if expected. Everything except for the end result: a general effect that is, for Marquet, superb.
- Henri Matisse, as quoted by Leo Stein [brother of Gertrude Stein]; as cited by w:Hilary Spurling The Unknown Matisse: Man of the North, 1869 – 1908, Penguin UK, 28 Sep, 2006, note 65
- Matisse declared this about the portrait which Albert Marquet made in 1900 of Matisse's wife then, Amélie Parayre

Do you realize how sensitive Marquet is... ...do you see that he has suffered, and can you imagine how much. Have you noticed that he is easily bruised and that you will have to guess at his bruises because he will never say a word?
- Henri Matisse in, Précis d'anatomie artistique à l'usage des artistes, Mathias Duval; as cited by Hilary Spurling The Unknown Matisse: Man of the North, 1869 – 1908, Penguin UK, 28 Sep, 2006, note 98
- [Matisse said this to Marcelle, the woman who would marry Albert Marquet thirty years later]

..a certain burst of light and colour, so awkward and so clumsy.. ..[he also added: A principle of form and of design is the most important element to be found in [Marquet's work].
- Francois Monod in his art-review 'Le Salon d'Automne', L'Art et Decoration, 1905 XVIII, p. 198-199.
- In the Fall of 1905 Marquet submitted four paintings to the Salon d'Automne: 'Antheor', 'Menton', 'Les Roches Rouges du Trayas', and 'Vue d'Agay'.

External links

Wikipedia

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Albert Marquet

'Albert Marquet and the Fauve movement, 1898 -1908', full text of thesis by Norris Judd, 1976