FRANCISCO TAMAGNO (1851-1933) LUCHON. Circa 1895. 47 1/2x31 1/4 inches. Camis, Paris. Condition B+ / A-: minor restoration along vertical and horizontal folds; minor repaired tears at edges. Luchon was the most elegant summer resort in the Pyrenees. In addition to the natural beauty of the area, good food, music, balls, horse races and festivals of flowers were among the many attractions offered to wealthy visitors. For all she had to offer she was well deserving of the sobriquet Reine des Pyrenées, Queen of the Pyrenees. Tamagno captures all of this using vignettes and cartouches of the area, in the style of travel posters designed by Hugo d'Alesi. But the principal element of the design is a horseman and his galloping steed, suggesting just how important horse races were to the resort. Indeed Alphonse Mucha depicted what appears to be the same rider in a poster he designed for the resort around the same time. Pyrenees p. 22
