"Dangerous Creole Liaisons" by Creole Folk Artist Andrew LaMar Hopkins

"Dangerous Creole Liaisons" 16 x 12 Available by Creole Folk Artist Andrew LaMar Hopkins 

"Gabriel Aime at Le Petit Versailles" by Creole Folk Artist Andrew LaMar Hopkins

"Gabriel Aime at Le Petit Versailles" by Creole Folk Artist Andrew LaMar Hopkins 

My latest Masterpiece and 3rd painting in the Aime family series, is titled "Gabriel Aime at Le Petit Versailles" 14 x 11, Available. This is a painting of Gabriel Aimé (1828-1854), youngest and the only son of Francois-Gabriel “Valcour” Aime the "Louis XIV of Louisiana." His mother was Josephine Roman Aime, sister of the governor of Louisiana. Gabriel Aime was born at "Le Petit Versailles", in St. James Parish on March 11, 1826. Gabriel Aime was educated at Jefferson College in Louisiana then he was sent abroad for further education in Europe. 

During the 1840's and early 1850's Gabriel Aime tuck "Grand Tours" of Europe. The Grand Tour was the traditional trip of Europe undertaken by mainly upper class American young men of sufficient means and rank in the 19th century. On these tours Gabriel Aime would have trek through France and Italy in search of art, culture and the roots of Western civilization. With nearly unlimited funds, aristocratic connections and months (or years) to roam around. He would have commissioned copies of Old Master paintings like the one depicted in my painting of Salvator Mundi, a painting of Christ as Salvator Mundi (Latin for Savior of the World) original by Leonardo da Vinci, dated to c. 1500.

 Ironically the original showed up at a New Orleans auction house in the 1990's. On Easter Sunday, Apr. 4, 1847, Gabriel Aime received a Papal Blessing from the Pope at the Vatican. Gabriel Aime would perfect his language skills and mingled with the upper crust of the Continent. Gabriel Aime sent to Le Petit Versailles many crates of furniture and decorative arts he had purchased on the Grand Tour like the marble bust of Zeus on the New York classical card table. In 1854 Gabriel returned from a tour of Europe and arrived in New Orleans during a yellow fever epidemic. 

After traveling to his family home Le Petit Versailles, he became sick and died soon after being diagnosed with the Yellow fever.The Times-Picayune notice of his death described him As "His tall, well developed, manly form swelling with youthful health and vigor, and his easy, polished, courteous manner lending additional grace to his pleasant words and lively, smiling countenance". Gabriel’s passing marked the end of his father Aime’s sugar experimentation and the start of his withdrawal from society. The following is recorded in Aime’s plantation journal: 

“The diary of Mr. Valcour Aime closes on the 18th September, 1854, on account of his retirement from active life. His journal was continued by Mr. F. Fortier, his son-in-law. …” In 1856 Aime’s wife Josephine passed away, followed by his daughter Felicie in 1859. The loss of his son, wife, and daughter crushed Aime. In his diary, he writes, “Let him who wishes continue. My time is finished.” Aime secluded himself at home and converted the garden grotto into a makeshift chapel. There and at the local parish church he spent his time in prayer.

"Pierre de Pontalba surrounded by his ancestors at le château de Mont l'Évêque" by Andrew LaMar Hopkins

My latest Masterpiece titled "Pierre de Pontalba surrounded by his ancestors at le château de Mont l'Évêque" by Andrew LaMar Hopkins, 8 x 10. Not for sale. In the collection of the Artist! 

"Tonton de Blanc the Marie Antoinette of Louisiana" by Andrew LaMar Hopkins

"Tonton de Blanc the Marie Antoinette of Louisiana" by Andrew LaMar Hopkins 

My latest masterpiece is titled "Tonton de Blanc the Marie Antoinette of Louisiana" 11 x 14, Available. At a Christmas party I met a ancestor of the fabulous Tonton de Blanc who told me her fascinating story of this amazing lady. I thought at that time I needed to paint her. Tonton de Blanc was the Queen of beauty and fashion of late 18th century Saint Martinville, Louisiana. In my painting Tonton is standing in her Saint Martinville home holding a basket of fruit. The room is furnished with Louisiana made Creole furniture, like the Mahogany Cabriole Leg Armoire to the right and the Louisiana mahogany one drawer side table to the left. On the Creole table is a 18th century cobalt and ormolu Sèvres porcelain vase of garden flowers. 

Over the table is a oil portrait French Queen Marie Antoinette by court painter Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun. While in France Tonton de Blanc was in the Court of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI. On top pf the armoire are wallpaper hat boxes. The French doors have a Toile de Jouy and lace drapery treatment. Tonton stands on a imported marble floors that includes yellow Royal Siena marble. Tonton de Blanc had one of the prettiest complexions in the world, all lily and rose, and what care she took of it ! She never went into the yard or the garden without a sunbonnet and a thick veil. 

Yet for all that her jealous critics said she was good and sensible, and would forget everything, even her dressing to help anyone in trouble. Tonton de Blanc was Louisiana Aristocracy and the Queen bee of fashion of 18th century Saint Martin. She designed fashionable hats made by milliners using local materials like split palmetto finished off with silk flowers and ribbons. After Tonton debut her fashions in the saint Marin church ,The next Sunday you could see as many hats as the milliner had time to make, and before the end of the month all the women of Saint Martinville were wearing palmetto hats furnished at a high 18th century cost of $25.00 each! You can read more about Tonton de Blanc in "Strange True Stories of Louisiana" by George Washington Cable. 

"Toussaint L'Ouverture, the black Napoleon" by Andrew LaMar Hopkins

"Toussaint L'Ouverture, the black Napoleon" by Andrew LaMar Hopkins. 

My latest miniature is titled "Toussaint L'Ouverture, the black Napoleon" Available PM me for price! Toussaint Louverture, Louverture also spelled L’Ouverture, original name (until c. 1793) François Dominique Toussaint, (born c. 1743, Bréda, near Cap-Français, Saint-Domingue [Haiti]—died April 7, 1803, Fort-de-Joux, France), leader of the Haitian independence movement during the French Revolution. He emancipated the slaves and negotiated for the French colony on Hispaniola, Saint-Domingue (later Haiti), to be governed, briefly, by black former slaves as a French protectorate.Toussaint was the son of an educated slave; Legally freed in 1776, he married and had two sons. Toussaint was homely, short, and small framed. He was a fervent Roman Catholic, opposed to Vodou (Voodoo). He dressed simply and was abstemious and a vegetarian. Although he slept little, his energy and capacity for work were astonishing. As a leader he inspired awe and adulation.