LIMOUSE

preliminaries

Limouse in the closing years of his life

Limouse in the closing years of his life and, below, the last quatrain of the poem “Dance of Death” that the artist, aged 91, calligraphed from memory.

“I hope the very State itself is halted in its tracks at the sight of Limouse’s canvases, for they are worthy of the Luxembourg.”

Louis Vauxcelles, 1935

Louis Vauxcelles portrayed by Chéret
Louis Vauxcelles portrayed by Chéret

The dates and comments comprised in this website* are derived from a shortlist adopted by Limouse to structure his memoirs. The artist dictated them in 1988 to the “archivist of his memories” (in Limouse’s own words), Isée St. John Knowles, curator of the Limouse Flowers of Evil Museum at Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and Chester (GB) from 1978 to 2001. * English translation by Adam Warren, FRSA, save for the commentaries to the five works written in English by their author.

A letter from an enthusiastic Sacha Guitry

A letter from an enthusiastic Sacha Guitry to Limouse.

guest book page

When the Paris high society was captivated by the Limouse exhibitions.

“Limouse’s art is without historical precedent. It expresses the feelings and passions that enchanted Baudelaire and held him spellbound, his amorous ecstasy, his magnanimity towards the weakest, and his undying attachment to dandyism.”

Isée St. John Knowles, 1985

Isée St. John Knowles, Study by Limouse
Isée St. John Knowles
Study by Limouse, 1985.