Adolphe Valette: A French Impressionist in Manchester

by Sandra Martin

Adolphe Valette, a French born artist who spent much of his working life in Manchester, is known today both as the teacher of L. S. Lowry and as the creator of a remarkable series of Impressionistic paintings of Edwardian Manchester. These large, impressive canvases depict the streets and waterways of an industrial city cloaked in its smog-ridden atmosphere. They present a fascinating image of a burgeoning commercial centre in its heyday, clinging to its Victorian past but eager to embrace the modern world. Valette was a shy, modest man dedicated to his art, but who did little to promote his own interests. He was, by nature, a keen observer and realist and this, combined with his exceptional understanding of light and instinctive feeling for tone, enabled him to produce works of great clarity and delicate luminosity. This innovatively designed selection of his work, complete with details, comparative images and a definitive text on his life, provides a wonderful introduction to a much neglected ar

Paperback

First published July 1, 1994

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adolphe Valette: A French Impressionist in Manchester – A Wonderful Introduction

This excellent 4-gatefold book is an excellently researched book by Sandra Martin, originally produced for a Valette exhibition at Manchester Art Gallery. In full colour so you can get the wonderfully evocative pictures Valette created while he was a tutor at the Manchester School of Art.

Manchester was the adopted city of Adolphe Valette from 1904, who taught at the School of Art from 1906 – 1920. He influenced many artists and the many know he was the person who tutored a young L.S. Lowry. Valette was a dedicated teacher and committed to his art, who had an instinctive feeling for light, colour and tone which enabled him to produce works of clarity and luminosity.

Valette’s artistic output is recorded in this book along with some of his studies for major works. Some of his most famous work, such as ‘Oxford Street’, ‘India House’, and ‘Hansom Cab at All Saints’ and ‘Old cab at All Saints’ were just a few minutes away from his studio in the Art School on Cavendish Street.

It is said that Valette changed the atmosphere of the Art School who was affectionally called ‘Mr Monsieur’ by his students. Valette was originally appointed to teach life drawing from a nude model and he taught this class throughout the period. He was an ‘unorthodox’ teacher for what was considered a provincial school. Valette was regarded as a real artist unlike his colleagues in the Art School.

Before he retired to France, nine of Valette’s Manchester views were purchased by Manchester Art Gallery and are still on display today.

[Alison Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great artist. Sad life dominated by tuberculosis as was so common in Manchester at that time. Lovely to see such a range of his works in this unusual format, small book.