Ravel's uncle Edouard was the youngest of five children - apart from his brother Pierre-Joseph, there were three sisters. Born in Versoix on Lake Geneva, Edouard remained in Switzerland and for the latter part of his life lived in Geneva. He became a successful painter, exhibiting in Paris as well as teaching there on occasion. His portrait of Ravel's mother Marie Delouart held pride of place in Ravel's composing room at Le Belvédère.
Other examples of his work can be seen on the Patrimoine versoisien website.
Edouard's wife, Marie, died in 1919, and he died in the following year. It was partly with the help of a legacy from his uncle that Ravel was enabled to buy his own first home at Montfort L'Amaury in 1921.
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