Mont Saint-Michel Artist - Roullet, Gaston
The Artist
Gaston Roullet (1847 - 1925) was born into a family with a legal background but chose to pursue a career in art, studying under Jules Noël. His marriage to Noël's daughter, Marie-Caroline, connects him even more deeply to the art world, although it seems that he eventually had a falling out with his teacher over his lifestyle choices.
As an artist, Roullet became known for his landscape and cityscape paintings, many of which depict the energy and vitality of Paris. His style was influenced by Impressionism, a revolutionary art movement of the 19th century known for its emphasis on capturing light, color, and movement. Artists like Claude Monet and Camille Pissarro, who were key figures in the Impressionist movement, served as influences for Roullet's work.
In addition to painting, Roullet also made significant contributions as an illustrator and lithographer, including works for magazines and books. His active participation in the Salon des Indépendants, a group that sought to provide an alternative platform for artists to exhibit their work outside of the official Salon, also speaks to his involvement in the art community.
Roullet's appointment as the official painter for the Navy and the Colonies sent him to various locations around the globe, allowing him to capture diverse landscapes and scenes in his work. His travels to places like Tonkin, Tunisia, New Caledonia, Senegal, and Sudan, would have provided him with unique artistic inspiration and a broad range of subjects.
Roullet's work as a correspondent for Le Monde Illustre further expanded his audience and influence. His scenes from Africa, Oceania, Indochina, and Canada, as well as from coastal sites in Brittany and Normandy, would have brought images of these places to readers who may not have been able to visit these locations.
Through his paintings, illustrations, and correspondences, Gaston Roullet provided a window into different parts of the world and various aspects of French society in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His legacy as an artist and illustrator continues to be seen in the influence he had on subsequent generations of artists, including his son and niece.
Click here to read Roullet's bio on Wikipedia (in French only)
Roullet also painted in nearby Granville:
That is all the paintings of Gaston Roullet that we could find in Mont Saint-Michel and surroundings.