This special bond which unites artists in Arles is in no way contemporary.
In 1796, crowned with his Grand Prix de Rome (Grand Prix of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture), Jacques Réattu returns to settle in his hometown, Arles. He invests the buildings of the Grand Priory of the Order of Malta to make it his creative workshop. Most of his works have not left these walls ... The imposing building has since become Réattu Museum.
A century later, another artist, Léopold Lelée, said Léo Lelée, originally from Mayenne, heard about Arles from a former friend, the watercolorist and sculptor Gaston de Luppé. The singing accent, the promises of sunshine and beautiful Arlésiennes finally convince him. Here he arrives in Arles and is passionate about the culture, the traditions, and in particular the costume of Arlésiennes. Became a friend of the poet Frédéric Mistral, Léo Lelée becomes title painter of the City of Arles. We find some of his works and illustrations at Museon Arlaten (founded by Frédéric Mistral).