Rhododendrons at Villa Zonneschyn

1902
Oil on canvas
74 x 60 cm
Signed lower right: Emile Claus
Signed and dated on reverse: Meij / J.B. / E.C.

+32 (0)9 281 11 70

During the 1890s, Villa Zonneschijn attracted numerous friends and acquaintances, who praised the hospitality at Astene as an unforgettable moment of tranquillity. From around 1895, Claus paid more attention to the immediate surroundings of Villa Zonneschijn in his work. From 1899, this inspired place gained international fame with the purchase of the painting Villa Zonneschijn (1899) by the Musée du Luxembourg in Paris (now collection Musée d'Orsay).
In this painting, the facade of the residence is the backdrop for the flowering rhododendrons. Especially in the foreground, the artist used a free technique that has a strong unifying effect. Around 1900, Claus more often painted his garden, the property of his wife Charlotte Claus-Du Faux.

- De Smet, J. e.a., Emile Claus en het landleven, cat. (Gent: MSK, 2009).
- De Smet, J. & W. Lammertijn, Emile Claus. Prins van het luminisme, cat. (Tielt: Hannibal, 2024).
- Eeckhout, P., Retrospectieve tentoonstelling Emile Claus 1849-1924, cat. (Gent: MSK, 1974).