Impressionism, locations
where the ‘impressionists’ did paint:
Along the Atlantic coast
a topographical overview
Introduction:
The ‘impressionists’ and other landscapists sometimes did paint at places along the Atlantic coast. We will follow this coast from just south of the Brittany peninsula to the Spanish border, where it is also called the Gulf of Biscay. So now and then we will go more land inward.
Note: At some places the ‘impressionists’ and others made so many paintings that you will be directed to a seperate page.
Nantes:
Nantes is the capital of the department Loire-Atlantique (iR3). It lies more land inward along the Loire. Nantes has a Musée d’Arts (M16). In Nantes there have been regional exhibitions organised, namely in 1886 many ‘impressionist’ works were exhibited.
Pornic:
Pornic lies along the Atlantic coast, 49km west of Nantes. Armand Guillaumin painted here (in 1909).
Les Sables d’Olonne:
Les Sables d’Olonne lies in the department Vendée of which La Roche-sur-Yon is the capital (iR3).
La Rochelle:
La Rochelle is the capital of the department Charente-Maritime (iR3). Louis Debras made a historical painting on the Siege of La Rochelle (iR3), a work that was exhibited at the Salon (SdAF) in 1889. Paul Signac often painted here and depicted the harbour. La Rochelle has a Musée des Beaux-Arts.
Saint-Palais:
Saint-Palais-sur-Mer lies 80km south of La Rochelle. After 1892 Armand Guillaumin spent the late summers in Saint-Palais.
Bordeaux:
Bordeaux is the capital of Gironde (iR3). Bordeaux lies land inward along the river Garonne (iR3). Bordeaux has a Musée des Beaux-Arts (M11). There also were regional exhibitions in Bordeaux.
Biscarrosse:
Biscarrosse is a large city in the department Landes (iR3).
Pau:
The most southern department along the Atlantic coast is Pyrénées-Atlantic (formerly known as Basses-Pyrénées) (iR3). The capital is Pau, about 103km land inward. Pau has a Musée des Beaux-Arts (M170). In Pau there had been regional exhibitions organised.
Bayonne:
Bayonne is a large city in the Pyrénées-Atlantic department, along the river Adour. Bayonne has the Musée Bonnat-Helleu (M191).
Saint-Jean:
Saint-Jean-de-Luz lies about 14km from the Spanish border in the French Basque region. In 1862 Gustave Colin settled in Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
Ciboure:
Ciboure lies just south of Saint-Jean at the left bank of the river Nivelle (the last part is often called the Pasajes). In 1858 Gustave Colin established a studio in Ciboure and in 1860 moved to rue Agorette in Ciboure. Colin is burried at the Belvédère Cemetery in Ciboure.
Hendaye:
Hendaye lies against the Spanish border.
Sources:
My main sources are . For the locations I used Google maps (iR9). For background information on the places I mostly used WikiPedia (iR3).
See links for other general references (=R), internet sites (=iR) and musea (=M). For other additional references (=aR) see below. See links for practical hints and abbreviations and for the subscription of the paintings.
Further readings:
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Additional references (=aRx):
- x
Recommanded citation: “Impressionism, locations where the ‘impressionists’ did paint: Along the Atlantic coast. Last modified 2025/02/16. https://www.impressionism.nl/the-atlantic-coast/”
Note: additional info and pictures will follow.