La Sarthe près du Mans invites us into the pastoral heart of France, where the gentle flow of the Sarthe River carves its way through rolling countryside. The composition captures a picturesque scene of rustic charm—an old stone bridge arches gracefully over the reflective waters, linking the banks where clusters of warm-hued houses nestle among lush greenery. The trees, standing sentinel along the river’s edge, sway gently under a vast sky streaked with drifting clouds. Light filters through, dappling the foliage and shimmering on the water’s surface, as if caught in an unguarded moment of summer repose.Robin’s choice of setting reflects his deep affection for the rural landscapes of France. The Sarthe, a river that meanders through the historic Pays de la Loire region, was a subject that resonated with his artistic sensibilities. It is likely that this piece was inspired by one of his family travels, when he sought to capture the unspoiled beauty of the French countryside. The composition is masterfully balanced, with the solid bridge acting as an anchor while the interplay of trees, water, and sky adds movement and depth. A few carefully placed figures and moored boats offer subtle human presence, reinforcing the connection between nature and rural life.Robin’s technique, deeply rooted in the Post-Impressionist tradition, is a testament to his ability to manipulate oil paint with both precision and exuberance. His brushwork is fluid yet purposeful, with broad, expressive strokes that suggest movement and vitality. Vibrant greens and golden ochres bring the land to life, while the river’s glassy surface is rendered with a delicacy that captures the fleeting reflections of sky and foliage.There is an immediacy to Robin’s approach, a quality that aligns him with the en plein air practice of the Impressionist masters. He does not labour over excessive detail but instead distils the essence of the scene, allowing colour and texture to evoke mood and atmosphere. The clouds are painted with a light, feathery touch, their softness contrasting with the solidity of the stone bridge. This juxtaposition between structural elements and the organic world enhances the painting’s depth and harmony.One of Robin’s greatest strengths was his ability to translate the subtle shifts in climate and season into his work. Here, we sense the warmth of the sunlit afternoon, the gentle rustling of leaves, and the languid flow of the river—all rendered with a colour palette that is both rich and restrained. The precision of his tonal values ensures that light and shadow interact naturally, enhancing the painting’s realism while maintaining its poetic allure.As one of the most accomplished yet under appreciated Post-Impressionist painters of the twentieth century, Georges Charles Robin devoted his career to capturing the quiet beauty of France’s countryside. His works, infused with a deep reverence for nature and rural life, stand as a bridge between tradition and modernity. The clarity of his compositions, the mastery of his palette, and his intuitive understanding of light set him apart from his contemporaries. With its rich textural details and masterful composition, La Sarthe près du Mans embodies the enduring appeal of Robin’s vision and his remarkable ability to capture the soul of the French countryside.Georges Charles Robin (1903-2002) was born in Paris. He studied at École des Beaux-Arts under the master painter Paul Michel Dupuy, a noted artist whose paintings are to be found in the collection of the Musée du Louvre. Robin went on to become a well-known decorative artist, before securing a job as the scenery artist for the Charleville Theatre and the Dinan Casino.Robin lived in the affluent suburb of Rueil Malmaison on the western outskirts of Paris throughout his life. The summer months were often spent near Morlaix in Brittany where Robin had a second home; there he would capture idyllic seascapes and charming river estuaries bathed in sunshine. However, throughout Robin’s career the Loire Valley and the Dordogne region inspired his greatest works.Robin was a member of the Salon des Artistes Français, the Salon des Paysagistes Français, and the Society of Arts, Science and Letters. He was an officer of the Académie des Beaux Arts, director of the Institute of “Instruction Publique”, and a former Professor of the Technical High School. He was highly lauded, achieving virtually every major award in French painting for his work, among which the Hors Concors stands out as one of the highest and most esteemed awards of an artist of the time.Gladwell & Patterson’s history with this distinguished artist began after the Second World War. Herbert Fuller of Gladwell & Company, London, discovered the landscapes of George Charles Robin in the Paris Salon in 1948 and approached the artist in his studio. Being in his fifties, Robin had already established himself as one of the foremost French artists of the day. Initially the artist was represented by Galerie Haussmann and Galerie Henault, but as his popularity grew, Gladwell & Company acquired paintings directly from the artist until he became blind in 1981.For over seventy years, Robin's interpretation of the French landscape has never ceased to appeal to our clients and as a result we are extremely confident that we have found a Master artist whose reputation will grow with the passage of time very much like the Impressionists have over the last one hundred and fifty years. Robin’s paintings were acquired by the City of Paris, the City of Clichy, as well as by the French Government during his lifetime. Robin’s work is housed in important private and museum collections around the world. Since he first set eyes on Robin’s landscapes in Paris, Herbert Fuller, and the two subsequent generations of the Fuller family of Gladwell & Patterson have continued to share the legacy of this great artist. The gallery has both an outstanding library of his work and a highly cultivated knowledge of his practice. We are currently preparing a Catalogue Raisonné of his work.

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