Hotel de l’Alpage is adorned with paintings throughout its interiors, reflecting the charm of French homes, where artworks are a staple on the walls, seamlessly blending into the atmosphere as if they have always been there. Each painting in the hotel has been carefully selected by the owner to evoke this familiar and timeless ambiance.

We hope you experience how just one painting can transform the mood and atmosphere of a space, bringing the essence of an “art-filled environment” to life.

On this article we will be introducing the paintings adorning our bar: Le Rêve, a unique escape where earthy tones and sophisticated design converge to create an atmosphere of refined relaxation. The bar’s moody ambiance is enhanced by soft, dim lighting and rich, warm colours, making it the perfect spot to unwind after a long day.

As you step into the bar, on the immediate left hangs a painting by the famous 19th-century French painter Adolphe Monticelli or possibly his disciple, Fernand Viola. Monticelli was known for depicting the elegant era before the French Revolution, imbued with a sense of melancholy, and his distinctive brushwork is said to have influenced Van Gogh. It is also possible that this work bears Monticelli’s signature, even though it may have been painted by Viola.

As you move from the entrance of the bar towards the floor-to-ceiling arched window overlooking the hotel garden, on your right are four paintings by Fernand Viola, displayed as a series. Two of these depict colonnades, likely inspired by the colonnades of Parc Monceau in Paris, one of the English-style gardens mentioned in the reception paintings article. These paintings evoke the emotions tied to the elegant era before the French Revolution, a nostalgia for the period around 1780, as described by the French diplomat Talleyrand, who said, “Those who did not live through the years around 1780 cannot possibly understand the sweetness of life.” Indeed, the expressions on the finely dressed figures are filled with melancholy. At the same time, the modern, bold brushstrokes suggest that these paintings are not merely works of nostalgia but pieces that belong to the next era.

The painting just to the right of the arched window depicts the departure for Troy from Homer’s epic, and is a 19th-century piece from the United Kingdom. While it shows that works inspired by ancient Greece were consistently favoured, the expression of the piece also reflects the spirit of the 19th century.

The artwork displayed next to the bar counter is a 19th-century piece depicting the gardens of the Alhambra Palace in Granada, built during the Islamic period from the late 13th to early 14th century. Since it portrays gardens from a bygone era, it exudes a melancholic atmosphere. Islamic motifs were popular in the 19th century, not only in paintings but also in architecture, capturing the Islamic world as a kind of dreamlike subject.

From the bar’s windows, you can enjoy a view of the hotel’s garden. At the far end of the garden, there stands an ancient wisteria tree, a remnant from the Hotel Heidi days. The trunk and branches of the wisteria are intricately intertwined with a pear tree, and in spring, they bloom with vibrant white and purple flowers.

At Bar Le Rêve, in addition to appreciating the artwork, you can enjoy the natural scenery outside the windows, immerse yourself in culture with old books focused on architecture and European themes, savour rare French liqueurs, or indulge in board games like chess.

There are many ways to spend your time here at hotel de l’Alpage.

Be sure to also read “Spaces with Paintings, Vol. 1” and “Vol. 2.”