Frédé (Frederic) Gerard

• Frederic Gerard became the manager of the Lapin Agile when Aristide Bruant purchased the cabaret around 1900.  He was known as Père Frédé by the regulars at the Lapin Agile.  He would play the guitar and cello for the patrons at the bar for sing-alongs.

 

Inside the Lapin Agile; Frédé is sitting on the right strumming his guitar.

 

• Frédé accepted art work as payment for the bar tab, which made the Lapin Agile appealing for artists.  Because of this arrangement Frédé acquired a nice collection of pictures including, of course, Picasso’s At the Lapin Agile.  Picasso also painted Frédé’s daughter, Margot, and her tame crow in the painting Woman with a Crow.

Woman With a Crow.  1904

• Frédé’s donkey, Lolo, became famous for her art skills when some of the patrons of the Lapin Agile tied a paint brush to Lolo’s tail so that she could paint on a piece of canvas.  The painting was submitted to the annual Salon des Independants in Paris under the name “Boronali.”  Much to the amusement to those involved in the hoax the painting received high praise from critics at the exhibit.

Frédé and his donkey, Lolo

Resources:

Au Lapin Agile un des plus vieux cabarets de Paris

Colleen's Paris Strolls

ON-LINE PICASSO PROJECT

Picasso at the Lapin Agile Director's Notes

Go Back to the People Page

Go to the Main Page

 Go to the Miscellaneous Page

Go to the Location Page

Go to the Productions Page

Go to the Biography Page