it was a snowy afternoon treat - to find in the
Musee Alpin in Chamonix, a mountaineering artist; Gabriel Loppe.
For someone painting in the mid 1800's, he was an early impressionist who was truly able to capture to delicate light on snow and ice at altitude. Way before photos, he must have entranced those who could only dream of heading up into the mountains. For those of us lucky to have been up there, he captures both the light and the emotions of wonder at the physical power and beauty of rugged mountain peaks and ridges. I was spellbound by the way he captured the different colours and layers of glacial ice.
This exhibition aimed to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of his death, and was arranged in different rooms to reflect themes of alpine nature, sunsets, snow filled valleys, snow scenes and finally, his studio. I was able to imagine a wealthy adventurer, traveller and aesthete. From his home in Geneva, he climbed Mont Blanc three times in 1861, and regularly visited Chamonix, Zermatt, Paris and London.
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