Ravel's uncle Edouard was the youngest of his father's four brothers. Born in Versoix on Lake Geneva, he remained in Switzerland and for the latter part of his life lived in Geneva. He became a successful painter, mainly of portraits. His portrait of Ravel's mother Marie Delouart held pride of place in Ravel's composing room at Le Belvédère.
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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