ÉDOUARD AUGUSTE RAGU (1847–1923) A set of two works: - View of Mennetou-sur-Cher Panel Signed and dated lower right: Ragu/Mennetou Height: 41 cm - Width: 32.5 cm - Farmhouse Original canvas Signed lower right: Ragu Height: 55.5 cm - Width: 38 cm French painter of landscapes and rural scenes. He exhibited at the Salon beginning in 1873 and simultaneously pursued an administrative career at the École Polytechnique. Settling in the Loire Valley toward the end of his life, he devoted himself to depicting the old villages, farms, and landscapes of the Loir-et-Cher, Berry, and Sologne regions. One of his works, *Le Loir à Montoire*, is housed at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Blois. The first work depicts a view of the medieval town of Mennetou-sur-Cher in the Loir-et-Cher department. Founded in the 13th century, Mennetou-sur-Cher owes its development to its strategic location on the ancient trade route between Bourges and Tours. The medieval town of Mennetou-sur-Cher was then a true crossroads of trade, protected by ramparts and organized around a priory run by Benedictine nuns until the French Revolution. Over the centuries, the village has retained its original layout and part of its fortifications: three round towers with arrowslits and three square gates, which still stand today, such as the one shown in the view. The lot may be claimed at the office at 8 Rue Rossini, Paris 9th arrondissement, starting July 17, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.