Toulouse-Lautrec - The artist's mother, the Countess Adele de Toulouse-Lautrec

Since 2002 Lesley and I have owned a house near Albi in France, and to find the Musee Toulouse-Lautrec in the city was an unexpected joy. I had never really been drawn to Lautrec, but to see his work all together  cuts through the way Lautrec is portayed in history and all the words that have been written about to showcases his genius.

This portait of his mother, weary careworn and having a cup of tea is so tender.

Painted between 1881 and 1883, oil on canvas 93.5cm x 81cm