The Rural Church at Lastours (2025) Original Oil Painting by Gav Banns

This oil painting depicts the Église Sainte-Marguerite at Lastours, in the commune of Rilhac-Lastours, Haute-Vienne. The church stands among the fields and trees of the Limousin countryside, with a country path leading to its doors.

The church has an interesting place in the history of the village. It was built in 1488 on the site of an earlier motte castrale, where the powerful Lastours family had established a wooden castle. The castle was later replaced by a stone fortress, the ruins of which can still be found nearby. The church therefore stands on a site with a long connection to the medieval history of the area. It was restored in 1827, when the sacristy was also added.

I was drawn to the way the church sits within the surrounding landscape, with its distinctive tower rising above the trees and fields. The painting focuses on the relationship between the old church and the quiet rural setting around it.

Just out of view was a beautiful communal medieval garden with various fruits and herbs for visitors to enjoy. I was able to pick a few black currants (a giant variety) and enjoy those before the journey home.

Materials used:

Oil paints (Rembrandt, Old Holland, Winsor & Newton, Gamblin, lefranc & bourgeois)

Details:

• Oil painting on Canvas
• One of a kind artwork
• Size: 30.48 x 25.4 x 0.25cm (unframed) / 30.48 x 25.4cm (actual image size)
• Signed on the front
• Style: Impressionistic
• Subject: Landscapes, sea and sky