IHLEE & HEREFORD RETURN TO COLLIOURE
By James Trollope
The enigmatic painter Edgar Hereford and his lifelong friend Rudolph Ihlee are two of the artists celebrated in the current exhibition at the Musée in Collioure which runs until May next year.
The paintings by Hereford are a recent gift from his wife’s grandchildren whom I met while researching my book Rudolph Ihlee:The Road to Collioure which is on sale at the museum.
Hereford was a talented all-rounder of restricted height who composed music as well as paintings. He and Ihlee arrived in Collioure in 1922 and stayed until 1940. They lodged initially at an hotel overlooking the market place run by Pauline Quintana.
Shortly after their arrival, Ihlee gave her a painting of Collioure which is included in the show.
Hereford’s painting of the market place, featuring the hotel with the green shutters and brick surrounds, is also on view.
The British pair mingled with other artists in Collioure including Rolande Dechorain who painted Hereford’s portrait now gifted to the museum.
The mystery of another Hereford painting, not on show, has finally been solved. Confusingly it was titled Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet but the subject has now been confirmed as Codalet on the outskirts of Prades.
Rudolph Ihlee:The Road to Collioure was written by James Trollope who has had a house in Les Aspres for more than 25 years.
