| Pierre Girieud is a noble artist who, with a continuous effort, seeks to rise to pure beauty. He is enamored of order and style, the periods of the beautiful lessons of Italian art and the most classical moments, the most Roman of French art are precious to him. But if he dreams of the past, he is no less attached to life by the probity and sincerity of his design. It is this strength of the drawing, creator of beauty in the attitudes, which gives its value to this beautiful painting the Provençal Afternoon. But could we not, for ransom of his qualities, note some heavy atmosphere, some severity of tone, in this harmony which wants to be a feast of the sun? Perhaps also the beautiful harmony of these decorative panels, Music and Dance, despite the flavor of the overall expression, leaves a desire less tight. But they are defects of good quality and this effort of art commands better than deference. |