L’Esprit du Mistral / The Wind Spirit

Painting a transparent female spirit floating over the French country symbolically blowing the wind.

Size: P30, 92cm × 65cm, 36” x 25”
Media: Brush and scrub, Oil paint on Canvas
Date: Completed July 9, 1973
Where: Fayence, France
Signature: “KRISTIN 1973”
Currently: Lloyd’s bank Zurich, Switzerland

L’Esprit du Mistral / The Wind Spirit was another concept painting that relates to the Mistral wind. The Mistral phenomena is an interesting weather related event that occurs in Provence and is considered both a local benefit to the area as well as a particular annoyance. This strong wind is often accompanied buy fine weather but blows with a surprising force and consistency often over several days. It has often been ascribed as a cause of madness or at the very least leads to unusually high levels of irritability in the locals. I have experienced the constant 30 mph/50 km/h out of the North West and did find it definitely a bit unnerving as it never lets up, even if it did clear the air. I’m sure my mother thought that it was a relatable and recognizable concept for the local population.

As she writes in her diary, I think my mother set herself a real challenge to express such an ephemeral concept. In a letter written in Novemeber of that year, she enclosed a photograph and said:
” ‘The Wind Spirit’ approx 25″ x 35″ July ’73 ‘L’Esprit du Mistral’ Exhibited St. Raphael July ’73. Now hanging in Lloyd’s bank Zurich, Switzerland. View taken from Les Amandiers (holiday villa I looked after behind Fayence to the right. Montauroux & Callian would be to the left but hidden behind hills. Excerpt from diary – Sunday 8 July, stopped work because of giggles – ‘there was this guy on the radio moaning about his lost Maria, thought came – he should worry – I’ve got this bird charging around the sky in her nightie, with a devil’s horn in her hair, and I’ve got to get her together by to-morrow’. Anyway, the whole painting reads more like a summer breeze than the Mistral.”
But I’m sure she was delighted to sell it to Lloyd’s bank.

Diary Entries

June 24, 1973Idea for St Raphael exhibition “La Provence”. Could paint the Mistral! Even dreamt about it. Going to to be v. difficult.
June 28, 1973Painful birth in charcoal of ‘L’Esprit du Mistral’ 2½hrs
June 30, 19732hrs drawing figure
July 1, 1973Awoke feeling happy realising the days stretch ahead just for painting. Looked at last years & realised hassles & tiredness at Les Fourques.
July 4, 1973Started Landscape – went quite well
July 5, 1973Landscape going badly too dark – boring work, maybe it will pull together with floating figure.
July 6, 19734½hrs. problem painting figure on wet landscape solved OK
July 7, 1973HOT, worked hard & well on ‘L’Esprit’ 5hrs
July 8, 19735hrs on figure it comes & goes. Guy on radio moaning about his lost Maria. He should worry. I’ve got this bird charging around the sky in her nightie, with a devil’s horn in her hair, and I’ve got to get her together by to-morrow
July 9, 19735hrs. finished ‘L’Esprit’ . It’s either v. good or too quietly toned as to be dull. 25 hours
July 14, 1973Photo (accidental) of me & L’Esprit among those present in the Nice Matin!
September 21, 1973Went back to ‘L’Esprit’ changing colours.
October 12, 1973Meet Dr. Muller at Nice airport 3pm with work. Yippeee!!! He bought “The Unborn Child” & “L’Esprit du Vend” Quoted 1200-1500 francs – gave me 250fr on account Commissioned Nudes & Churchill! Very much wants to see me on his return!

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Anthony

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