Mme. Yolande de Rougeville was another artist in the area who lived in the country up behind the neighboring village of Callian. On her property there was a studio and some other buildings where another English artist, Dot lived. Shortly after this painting was completed, Yolande actually gave my mother a place to stay while she waited for her flat to be finished. See the Biography for more details. Besides being a painter in the naïve style, Yolande was an intellectual and a great lover of animals, taking in many strays. It was here that my mother was adopted by a kitten, Kichicot, that went with her to the new flat in Fayence.

The portrait is a great likeness and I find the eyes and expression especially telling of the kind person that was Yolande. The background was reminiscent of her naïve style of painting, here you can see a very simplified rendition of Callian on the right and then Yolande herself leading her dog and many cats up the hill behind the village to her own little compound of buildings. I’m sure it was a real struggle for my mother to paint in this naïve style as it it’s the antithesis of her own realistic style.

Below you will find a brief obituary for Yolande that my mother had placed next the photograph of the painting in her portfolio of portraits.

Diary Entries

Mme Yolande de Rougeville obituary

28 August 1974

Death of Mrs. Yolande de Rougeville

The members of the Mediterranean Cultural Society will learn with great sadness of the death of Mrs. Yolande de Rougeville, after a long illness, at the hospital in Grasse. A resident of Callian, she had been for many years a member of the S.C.M., where her work and conferences were always greatly appreciated.
During the next cycle, was she going to share one of her studies on Copernicus?…
Before being hospitalized, a fortnight ago, she had postponed her lecture until later, she wrote, “if I’m still here!” Alas! death took her.
She had been the organizer of the exhibition in Flayosc of painters of the society, herself a delicate artist, a passionate disciple of naïve art. One misses in her the sincere artist, the woman of heart, always ready to help other painters and her friends; always active and smiling. A religious service was celebrated in her memory, in the church of Callian
-body absent- Mme de Rougeville having donated her remains to science…
Our condolences to all those affected by this loss.