Le Rêve / The Dream

A painting of a women dreaming of a Unicorn

Size: P25, 78cm × 60cm, 30” x 23.5”
Media: Brush and scrub, Oil paint on Canvas
Date: Completed August 3, 1974
Where: Painted at Fayence, France
Signature: “christine benson 1974”
Currently: Unknown

Le Rêve (The Dream) was of course, inspired by a dream my mother had. At this time she had taken to recording some of her dreams in a Dream Journal, On June 29th. she has small sketch below which she writes” Conflicted dream involving Margareta but in the course of showing some strangers around a living room – supposedly mine – there was beautiful mysterious painting on the wall of Danielle & a unicorn, all monochrome with only the light [of the] full moon. Comment: Much too large a lunch and too hot a day!”

Dream Diary June 29, 1974
Dream Diary June 29, 1974

Diary Entries

July 24, 1974Felt truly inspired. Locked door and work 4½ on ‘Le Rêve’ (the Dream) a girl & a unicorn in Tibet as per legend.
July 25, 19744½hrs.  ‘Le Rêve No 1’ Had a lot of trouble with the background but rocks & plateau emerging OK
July 26, 19743½hrs.  ‘Le Rêve No 1’ Painted face She’s beautiful but not what I had in mind.
July 27, 19741½hrs.  ‘Rêve’ 
July 28, 1974Changed painting
August 3, 1974Belated inspiration on the Dream -Worked 4½hrs in eve
August 4, 19746:30 AM Framed ‘Le Rêve’  18 hrs [total]
July 27, 1976A day to remember when I’m old and gray!! Dina arrived at 9:30 AM for her first sitting – was up at 6:00 AM rearranging studio for portrait painting. At 11:15 Danielle called up and what was my last what was my last price on ‘the Water Girl’  and could a large party of Czechoslovakians see my atelier! Diana and her husband left – then there was an attractive French woman to sketch while Danielle took the Czechs all over my place and kept coming down for prices of paintings – in the middle of this the Sandersen’s (PC’s ex-family) with Charles and Allan arrived! Sent them up to serve themselves from the bar while the Czechs deliberated over different paintings. In desperation I accepted 2000 francs offer for ‘the Water Girl’ and my beloved ‘Unicorn’. Went off to lunch with the Sanders and Allah at the France. During heavy rain was going to start work on portrait when a German couple wanted their children sketched! I worked same and gave them wine and lemonade – they gave me 10 extra francs for the wine and 60F. they thought I was a courageous person! 
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Anthony

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