The Garden OF STARS
Riad between Agadir and Taroudant, in southern Morocco
Holiday rental with a resident of Swiss nationality
Claudio Bravo Palace: unique place
where floats the soul of the painter
The painter of Chilean originClaudio Bravo died of an epileptic seizure on June 4, 2011 in his extraordinary palace, located very close toTaroudant. Also called Claudio Bravo Palace, this quite exceptional place perpetuates the memory of the hyperrealist painter, highly rated in the art world. Claudio Bravo had chosen to live and work in Morocco for its exceptional light. He first set his sights on Tangier, then onMarrakesh, before settling definitively atTaroudant.
This great artist stayed since 2003, initially for part of the year, in the Roudanese palace that he built facing the Atlas. A place chosen, he says, because of the "world record for days without sunshine, which reaches only 25 days a year".
Mixture of realism, abstraction and classicism
Claudio Bravo stands out as an exceptional observer of immobile and frozen things. However, we are far from classic still lifes, as evidenced by the compositionsbelow. "My work is a mixture of realism, abstraction and classicism, explained the Chilean artist.What I'm trying to do is go against current trends in art".
Claudio Bravo found in Morocco the inspiration he was looking for, tireless energy, light, colors, people. Critics agree that he painted the reality and non-reality of his surroundings wonderfully. Millimeter, his technical mastery is exceptional. The portrait of the young woman in the turbanbelow reminds us wisely of how much he internalized Velasquez at the Prado or the Flemish masters. The restrained sensuality of the football players he painted was another facet of Claudio Bravo's extraordinarily eclectic palette.
The influence of nature and religion
For a while there was talk of opening a school of fine arts at his home in Taroudant, which was supposed to accommodate 200 students, but his disappearance prevented this beautiful project from seeing the light of day. Claudio Bravo is in any case inspired by the nature that surrounds him, as shown by his landscapes of the Atlas.
It has been said a lot that the Muslim religion influenced his formal and chromatic research. He thus produced a series of men in prayer and the cemetery below confirms this attraction. Nevertheless, his Christian culture expresses itself just as powerfully. His "Madonna" is rich in symbolism. The background of the landscape is none other than that of the kasbahs of southern Morocco. Stunning ! You can make it your wallpaper...
An extraordinary museum that we visit
This palace has become an extraordinary museum. From the Garden to the Stars, you can access it bya little over an hour. Entrance fee for a high quality guided tour, which we highly recommend: 200 dirhams (20 €) per person, including final tea facing the Atlas and the reconstitution of the Menara. The palace includes many works by the painter. These are copies.
Reservations and information:
Najoua Tabchich, communication manager, who generally accompanies visitors:
+212 6 912 421 61 and +212 6 619 681 21
+212 6 619 044 50
+212 6 938 178 30 (Mr Mourino)
+212 5 282 160 78
Overview of the works of the master of hyperrealism, Claudio Bravo
Le peintre hyperréaliste ne rechignait pas à se représenter lui-même.
Le Maroc très présent dans l'oeuvre de Claudio Bravo
La grâce et le respect du maître de l'hyperréalisme
Huile sur lin, 1992
Un érotisme souvent magnifié
Hommage au Souss, jardin du Maroc
Les modèles marocains avaient la préférence de l'artiste.
Une interprétation très personnelle de la naissance de Jésus.
L'arrrière-plan est typiquement berbère.
Huile sur toile de 2007 : "Beige, red and yellow papers on dark rose background"
La nature du Maroc a aussi inspiré le peintre.
En noir et blanc. Sa reproduction se trouve à l'entrée du Palais.
Virtual tour of the Palace of Claudio Bravo
Style arabe typique. Photo Philippe Terrier.
Une majestueuse allée bordé de palmiers
Un magnifique ensemble d'Echinocactus grusonii encore appelés coussin de belle-mère...
Hommage au roi Hassan II, père de Mohamed VI
Un goût très sûr
Très raffinée
L'architecture du Palais a été dessinée par Claudio Bravo lui-même.
Tout a été pensé par l'artiste, de l'architecture générale à la déco.
L'empereur Claude éleva Tingis (Tanger) au rang de Colonie romaine. Claudio Bravo peignit longtemps dans son palais de Tanger.
Et une statue à la romaine.
Magnificence
Couleurs magnifiques.
Sous les oliviers
Proportions magnifiques.
Collection sublime de verres colorés
On retrouve le même principe dans notre Salon Atlas, interprété tout à fait différemment.
Il a été conservé dans l'état où il se trouvait le jour de la mort de Claudio Bravo.
Jeux de lumière
La modernité a aussi sa part dans le palais.
Dépouillement et tradition revisitée.
Fontaine au centre, quatre parts de jardin
Au premier plan, le bâtiment inspiré de la Ménara de Marrakech et au second le mausolée où repose Claudio Bravo.
Objets marocains rares dans les vitrines
Pierre tombale sous laquelle repose Claudio Bravo