Saint-Cirq and Elsewhere

Upper Village, 1955-1970; Watercolor; Gift of Martha Daura, U2006.12.4

Bruges; Watercolor; U1994.0.56

Throughout his life, Daura spent much time exploring new cities and landscapes which served as his artistic inspirations. Extensively exploring France, Belgium, and Spain, Daura was already well travelled by the time he met Louise Blair, an American living in Paris. The couple married in 1928 and subequently moved from Paris to the small town of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, welcoming their first and only child, Martha, in 1930. 

For Pierre Daura, this French community helped to provide some sense of belonging as he saw his Catalan identity destroyed by Franco's nationalist regime. Daura's portrayl of the land and city scapes of St. Cirq demonstrate not only an interest in the area's beauty, but also an effort to aquaint himself with his new home. The importance of St. Cirq as a community in Daura's life is demonstrated by the fact that the artist maintained a residence there even while primarily living in the United States. 

Not wanting to feel as though his life was shrinking in his later life, Daura continued to travel around Europe in the post-war years, allowing him to appreciate and paint scenary from across the continent, such as the historic city of Bruges, Belgium.