Elie Anatole Pavil (French, 1873–1948)
Title: Lure Lodge au Casino de Montmartre
Date: Early 20th Century
Medium: Oil on panel
Dimensions: 15.5 x 22.0 cm (6 1/8 x 8 5/8 in), framed: 26.8 x 33.1 x 1.9 cm (10 1/2 x 13 x 3/4 in)
Provenance: Bonhams, Knightsbridge – Travel & Exploration Sale, March 2024
Restoration: Baumgartner Fine Art Restoration, Chicago, IL (2025)
Framing: Museum-quality custom frame (2025)
Description:
This Elie Anatole Pavil painting, Lure Lodge au Casino de Montmartre, captures the rhythm and atmosphere of Montmartre’s nightlife in the early 20th century. Pavil, a leading voice in French Impressionism, often painted everyday moments with vibrancy and feeling. In this work, he brings to life a casino lounge scene filled with warmth and human connection.
Two women sit in conversation, surrounded by bold colors—red, gold, and green. Their energy radiates from the center of the composition. A softly blurred background suggests a lively Montmartre interior. The brushwork is energetic, yet intentional. Pavil uses color and gesture to convey mood, not just form.
Unlike many of his peers, Pavil focused on urban intimacy. This painting invites viewers not just to see but to feel. We sense the laughter, the lighting, the closeness. His intuitive approach to color transforms this fleeting scene into something lasting.
This artwork was carefully conserved by Baumgartner Fine Art Restoration. It is housed in a museum-quality frame and was acquired from Bonhams at their March 2024 Travel & Exploration sale in London.
To learn more about Elie Anatole Pavil and his place in French Impressionism, visit his Cemetery page.