Xavier de Poret
Born in 1894.
Died in 1975.
A bird observed at close range, the silhouette of a horse, the expression of a face: Xavier de Poret makes drawing an instrument of attentiveness to the living world. Born in Dinan in 1894 and deceased in 1975, this French artist maintained a profound connection with Switzerland, particularly with the Gruyère region, whose animals and inhabitants occupy an important place in his work.
He grew up near Fontainebleau, in an environment where horses and birds provided his first subjects. A horseman familiar with hunting, he developed an attentive knowledge of animal movements and postures. During the First World War, his sketches of soldiers also bear witness to his interest in the human figure.
After his marriage to Juliette d’Oncieu de La Bâtie, he lived at the Château de Plaisance in Riaz. His journeys through the Pre-Alps inspired studies of chamois, roe deer, foxes and capercaillies. He also drew the people of this region, notably the armaillis and gamekeepers.
This grounding in the Gruyère region constitutes an essential dimension of his career, alongside his activity as a portraitist for an international clientele.
The precision of his line and the care devoted to expressions contributed to his reputation. His repertoire includes portraits of sovereigns, among them Elizabeth II, as well as studies and animal scenes. His collaboration with Hermès transferred several of his motifs onto silk scarves: great tits, turtle doves, does and broodmares thus entered the realm of the applied arts.
The Musée gruérien holds works by the artist, while the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature in Paris received fifty of his drawings in 2013. To discover Poret, one can observe how a contour, a shadow or a posture is enough to individualise an animal. Behind the recognition of the species, a particular presence then emerges, captured with patience and sensitivity.
