By Pierre Neveu
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Cucuron Provence Sunlit White Buildings Terracotta Roofs Village Street Watercolour
Artist: Pierre Neveu (French b.1929)
Medium: Watercolour on artist paper, unframed
Size (H x W): 8.5 x 6 inches
Inscribed “Cucuron” lower left (Cucuron is a historic village in the Luberon, Provence.)
Condition: Good overall, with light handling marks and minor natural toning consistent with age.
Provenance: From the artist’s studio sale in France; all works by this artist in our collection originate from the artist’s estate.
Description: An atmospheric Provençal village study by French Post Impressionist painter Pierre Neveu, this work is inscribed with the location Cucuron, one of the most characterful villages in the Luberon region of Provence. Known for its medieval streets, sunlit squares and iconic terracotta tiled roofs, Cucuron has been a favourite of artists and filmmakers, celebrated for its bright Mediterranean light and distinctive architecture.
Neveu captures a narrow village street framed by whitewashed buildings whose angular shadows fall sharply across the scene. The rich cobalt blue sky and warm orange rooftops create a striking contrast, while the cool purple shadows cast by the tall façades emphasise the heat and intensity of the Provençal sun. A glimpse of a blue doorway at the centre invites the viewer deeper into the winding street, while the stone wall and balcony details add architectural texture and charm.
Executed in watercolour and gouache, the piece blends loose washes with decisive ink lines, typical of Neveu’s plein air studies. His ability to convey light, temperature, and architectural rhythm makes this a quintessential depiction of southern France. Collectors of Provence landscapes, Luberon village scenes, and French architectural watercolours...
Category
Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Landscape Drawings and Watercolors
