Stephane Cara

About the Painting

This evocative landscape depicts the Sainte-Marie-de-Mazerat chapel in the commune of Saint-Émilion, Gironde, France. Painted in the 1950s, the work captures the rustic charm of the French countryside with warm earth tones and expressive brushwork characteristic of post-impressionist landscape painting. The composition centers on the modest stone chapel set against rolling hills, with a winding path leading the viewer's eye through the scene.

The artist employs a rich palette of ochres, greens, and blues to convey the atmospheric quality of the Bordeaux region. The loose, confident brushstrokes and attention to light effects demonstrate Cara's mastery of plein-air painting techniques developed during his career in the mid-20th century.

About the Artist

Stéphane Cara (1907-1997) was a French post-impressionist painter celebrated for his landscapes of the French countryside, particularly scenes from Brittany, Normandy, and the Bordeaux region. Born in the early 20th century, Cara developed his artistic voice during a period when post-impressionism continued to influence French landscape painting.

His work gained recognition through exhibitions in Paris and regional galleries throughout France. Notably, Cara was awarded the Grand Prix at the prestigious Deauville art competition, cementing his reputation among collectors and critics. His paintings are characterized by their vibrant color harmonies, dynamic compositions, and sensitive rendering of rural French architecture and landscapes.

Saint-Émilion Context

Saint-Émilion, located in the Gironde department of southwestern France, is renowned for its medieval architecture, vineyard landscapes, and historic chapels. The Sainte-Marie-de-Mazerat chapel depicted in this work represents the region's rich religious and architectural heritage, making this painting both an artistic achievement and a historical document of mid-century rural France.

Technical Details

Artist: Stéphane Cara (1907-1997)
Title: Landscape with a Chapel (Sainte-Marie-de-Mazerat, Saint-Émilion)
Date: c. 1950s
Medium: Oil on canvas
Signature: Signed lower right
Condition: Good vintage condition
Dimensions: 65 x 92 cm / 25½ x 36¼ in , unframed
Origin: France
Style: Post-Impressionist landscape

A distinguished example of mid-century French landscape painting by a Deauville Grand Prix laureate.