Augustin Lesage in the studio.
Augustin Lesage was a coal miner in small town. While he was nestled deep in a dark and isolated passage, he was confronted by a voice that told him he was to start painting. At first he ignored the voice in fear of his sanity, but the voice returned and insisted he start painting. He had absolutely no conception of art or even what materials he might need to begin painting, but with the assistance of a small art shop he set himself up with the proper materials. He sat in his room, blank canvas in front of him, fearing how he should even begin the endeavor. Eventually he looks outside his window to his neighbors lawn and starts interpreting what he sees in an ornate and spontaneous pattern which eventually fills the entire canvas. The spontaneity of his first painting diminishes and he begins to take on a process of dividing huge canvases directly down a vertical center. He mirrors each side exactly, if he makes an error, the painting is thrown away and another is begun. The voices continue and Lesage eventually believes he is the reincarnation of Leonardo Da Vinci, and he begins to sign all his paintings as such. [via] & bababadalgharag
