Château du Bosc | Toulouse-Lautrec
The family house of the world-reknown painter Toulouse-Lautrec is a richly furnished medieval château. Le Bosc (aka) is a late 15th century former feudal fortress, further on brought up to 19th century's standards.
If Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, was born in Albi on November 24. 1864, he spent all his time-offs in the Château du Bosc. It was there, in the lounge at 14 years old, that on the 30 may 1878, he slipped off a chair breaking his left femur. The following year, he broke his right femur in a ravine. These two subsequent falls meant that by the age of 15, Lautrec was disabled.
His only choice, picking up an artistic career.
The family museum exhibits a wall where family adults and children likewise were measured, and marks indicate their heights since the year 1850. Lautrec's height, in 1882 at 18 years of age, was 1m52.
His father and uncles, encouraged him a lot to develop his skills. It appears artistic traits ran into family's blood, and Lautrec was often told "we all have a yearning for the pencil".
With stong support in his new pursuits, Lautrec followed classicals painting and drawing studies. He then spent time in Paris, at the Moulin-Rouge where he started sketching dancers and clientele.
To know more about Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec:
- His biography
- Life events
- Art galleries
- Themes of Lautrec's art
Background top banner, oil on canvas close-up called "At The Moulin Rouge: The Clowness Cha-U-Kao", painted in 1895 by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. The original painting can be seen at the Musée d'Orsay, in Paris.
