Welsh Journals

ground, in three paintings The Wave: Langland Bay, Wales, Storr's Rock, Lady's Cove, Evening (now in Rouen), and Langland Bay, Morning (now in Bern). It is also included in two others, Lady's Cove and Lady's Cove Westside, Wales (now in Tokyo). When Sisley died, six of his South Wales paintings were still in his studio. Cardiff Roads and Lady's Cove, West Side were amongst these. Depeaux's Statements of Intent In April 1910, members of the Swansea Harbour Trust visited Rouen on a 'tour of inspection'. A dinner was given for them in the Rouen Chamber of Trade, and at this Depeaux made a speech, during which he stated that he would bequeath a Sisley painting of Langland Bay to Swansea. Graham Vivian opened the Glynn Vivian Gallery in July 1911, his brother having died a year before. François Depeaux had been invited to this opening but was too ill to attend. He was represented by his agent in Swansea, Mr. Jacquelin, who read a message from Depeaux wishing the Gallery well and repeating that some day he hoped to present a Sisley seascape of Langland Bay to the Gallery. This was men- tioned again in a local newspaper in spring 1912 and it was reported that privately, he had said that he intended to bequeath a second painting of Langland Bay to the Glynn Vivian Gallery but could not part with it yet! Depeaux died in October 1920 but no Sisley seascape arrived at the Glynn Vivian Gallery, although references to the promised gift appeared for some time after- wards, in the local press. In the Glynn Vivian archives is a very polite and diplomatic letter, written by the Curator, William Grant Murray, to Depeaux's widow. This expressed regret and con- dolences and enquired delicately about the promised Sisley. There is no evidence in the archives of a reply to this letter. Which painting or paintings did François Depeaux intend to give to the Glynn Vivian? Why did he not leave it or them to the Gallery in his will? What happened to it or them? Where are the Langland seascapes now? François Depeaux owned Lady's Cove, West side and several other canvases from the seventeen paintings Sisley produced of South Wales. He presented two of those to Rouen Musée des Beaux-Arts, one being Lady's Cove. Three of the six Langland Bay paintings were owned by Sisley's daughter, Mme. Jeanne Dietsh, these being Lady's Cover, Rough Sea, The Wave, Langland Bay and Langland Bay, Morning, this last one being purchased by Bern Art Gallery in 1919, where it still is. The only one of the six Langland Bay paintings in Sisley's studio at the time of his death was Lady's Cove, Westside and this appeared in the Studio Sale of his works, organised by Monet in May 1899. François Depeaux bought it and in 1901 it appeared in a Depeaux sale of paintings. Although sold, he must have later bought it back because he put it in a sale of his paintings again in 1906. It seems to have been bought by an agent on his behalf, which is puzzling but it was still in his possession when he died in 1920. A sale of Depeaux's estate took place in Paris in June 1921 and Lady's Cove, Westside was in this. It was purchased by the Bridgestone Art Museum in Tokyo.