Rose was completely annoyed with her brother, Paul. Their mother had died four years earlier and Paul, the executor, still had not settled her estate. Instead, he focused obsessively on his art while the family’s holdings crumbled into ruin.
Finally, after considerable nagging from his sister, Paul sold the estate and divided the funds. With his share, he bought a small plot of land and built a tiny art studio outside of town.
Rose undoubtedly scoffed at her brother’s apparent foolishness. After all, he had sold only a few paintings despite decades of labor. He produced paintings so strange he was mocked by the neighbors and the local press. His failure was so abject that he had to barter for supplies, trading his artwork to a local shopkeeper for brushes and paint.
What did Rose do with her inheritance? That detail is lost in history. But the world will long remember her brother, Paul Cezanne. Derided as a talentless hack for most of his life, he is recognized today as one of the most influential artists of the modern era, a reclusive genius whose art has touched the hearts of millions.
And what of the shopkeeper who kept the artist supplied with brushes and paint? He, too, played a role in this drama. He promoted Cezanne to other artists of his day, among them Monet, Gauguin and Renoir, who recognized his genius and encouraged him.
Some months ago, I visited Cezanne’s studio in Aix-en-Provence in France. More than a century after his death, his workshop looked as though he’d just stepped out to admire the view. But his obsession had cost him his life. Drenched by a storm while painting in a field, he got pneumonia and died at 67 in 1906.
I thought about that a lot as I wandered back to the nearby village and sipped a glass of wine at a small café. Most of us underestimate our ability to influence the world. But, confident in his talent, Cezanne used his inheritance wisely and left the world a more beautiful place. Clearly, his life suggests that one person, devoted to a vision, has a power that cannot be extinguished.
Many of our clients hope the wealth they leave behind will prove just as meaningful for their heirs. Our clients also want to foster important values: initiative, persistence, devotion to a talent or a dream that will better the world. Like the proverbial ripple in the pond, their legacy can make an extraordinary difference. Isn’t that a conversation worth having with your loved ones?