Extrait du livre Toulouse Lautrec
Toulouse-Lautrec by Tony Hart and Susan Hellard Flowerpot Children's press
Toulouse-Lautrec
At their family château in Albi, France, the Count Alphonse and the Countess Adèle de Toulouse-Lautrec waited excitedly for the birth of their child. A son was born. They named him Henri. He was a happy baby, but his anxious mother soon noticed that he wasn’t growing as fast as he should. The doctor was called and he told them the sad news. “Henri has a rare bone disease that will affect his growth and health.” Henri’s mother and two grandmothers made a great fuss over him. They loved to spoil their “little pearl”. Although he was often ill, Henri was always good-natured and curious about the world around him.
Henri’s father was an excellent horseman who was usually away hunting and hawking. But he loved his son, and during his brief visits, would dress up, often in a kilt, and perform funny sketches to amuse Henri. “Father, tell me about the time you won the chase," Henry would plead. He loved to hear his father’s tales of hunting and looked forward to riding himself one day. Count Alphonse, like many aristocrats, was an amateur painter and sculptor. “That is a wonderful horse, Father. May I have some clay too?” asked Henri. “Of course,” replied the Count.“Try to show the way an animal moves.” Henri enjoyed these shared moments. At four-years-old, he was already able to draw animals using quick strokes and flowing lines.
