SAINT-TROPEZ 1978
Bernard Buffet, artist of Saint-Tropez des Prés
In 1958, the carefree days of Saint-Tropez, Annabel Schwob and Bernard Buffet fell madly in love with eachother on the terrace of the bar de la Ponche. The region inspired many of their artistic creations including this superb original gouache from 1978.
The village, the sky and the sea, the profound blues, the tiled roofs and the famous church tower that shines in the sun, reveal the love of the artist for Saint-Tropez where he spent many summers with Annabel and their three children.
In 1958 in Saint-Tropez, the photographer Luc Fournol introduced his singer/model friend Annabel Schwob de Lure, to the painter Bernard Buffet who recently became single after his friend Pierre Bergé broke off this relationship to start a love affair with Yves Saint-Laurent.
The androgynous look of Annabel pleased him immensely. At the time Bernard was only 30 years old but had been renowned for over a decade. On December 12th 1958 he married his new muse in Ramatuelle in a very discreet ceremony. Annabel evokes her happiness in her book “Saint-Tropez d’hier et d’aujourd’hui” published in 1981. Our love was born in Saint-Tropez…
In 1958 when Bernard met Annabel in Saint-Tropez, he was already a star, his Parisian retrospective at the Charpentier gallery in the very chic Faubourg Saint-Honoré, attracted more than 100,000 visitors. It was a huge success, both with the public and the collectors.
