would become known as the Jardins Majorelle or Majorelle Garden. Initially, he built a house in the Mooroccan style but in 1931, he commissioned the architect, Paul Sinoir, to design a Cubist villa within the grounds. In 1937, he painted the villa in a special shade of the blue, which Majorelle had developed after being inspired by the blue tiles prevalent in southern Morocco. This colour was used extensively in Majorelle's house and garden, and now carries his name; Majorelle Blue. He gradually purchased additional land, extending his holding by almost 10 acres. He continued to work on the garden for almost forty years and it is said to be his finest work. The garden proved costly to run and in 1947, Majorelle opened the garden to the public with an admission fee designed to defray the cost of maintenance. He sold the house and land in the 1950s, after which it fell into disrepair. It was rediscovered in the 1980s, by designers, Yves Saint-Laurent and Pierre Bergé who set about restoring it and saving it. Yves Saint-Laurent and Pierre Bergé, who were keen art collectors, also began acquiring paintings by Majorelle. Yves Saint Laurent died in 2008 and his ashes were scattered in the gardens. Majorelle was sent to France for medical treatment in 1962 following a car accident, and died in Paris, later that year of complications from his injuries. He is buried in Nancy, the place of his birth, alongside his father. Legacy His life and work have been subject of a book, namely: Marcilhac, F., La Vie et l'oeuvre de Jacques Majorelle, [volume 7 in the series, Les Orientalistes], Paris, ACR edition, 1988 Work Majorelle is recognised as one of the early modernist Orientalists. During his lifetime, many of Majorelle's paintings were sold to private buyers and remain in private collections. Some of his early works can be found in Museums around his birthplace such as the Musee de l'Ecole de Nancy. Examples of his later work can be seen in the Mamounia Hotel, Marrakesh, the French Consulate of Marrakech and in the Villa at the Majorelle Gardens. Publications Road Trip Diary of a Painter in the Atlas and the Anti-Atlas, 1922 Select list of paintings Souk el Khérais n.d. (Shafik Gabr Private Collection) Souq El Khémis, n.d. Souk à Marrakech n.d. Souk Couvert, n.d. Scène de souk, Marrakech n.d. Le Marché aux Dattes, n.d. Kasbah