Raoul Larche
(Saint-André-de-Cubzak 1860-1912 Paris)

La Tempête et ses Nuées

(The storm and her clouds)
Exhibited at the Salon 1896
Bronze, dark brown over red-brown patina
Signed ‘Raoul Larche’, numbered ‘6497’ and stamped with the seal of Siot Decauville Paris
Dedicated ‘A Mr Henri Viet, Maire du XI ardt, chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, ses collègues et ses amis, 22 janvier 1921’
Cast 1920-21
Height 87,3cm

When Raoul Larche exhibited his La Tempête et ses nuées at the salon of 1896 he shocked and divided an art public accustomed to his typical sweet and graceful subjects. For an artist best known for his depictions of Loie Fullers' dances and lyrical allegories such as his Les Violettes, the group was certainly a departure. The clouds, in the form of writhing angry nudes are led by the storm, personified as a powerful screeching woman, arms outflung to destroy everything in her path. In his review of Larche's career Renoux was troubled by La Tempête wondering at the artist's audacity in trying to illustrate something as 'untranslatable' and 'elusive' as a storm. For the critic Henri Rochefort it was a masterwork and he described the work as 'Michel-angelesque'.

 

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