印象主義の芸術家たちに強い影響を与えたサティは「魅力的で愛すべき人」と身内の人間に称されていた。一見、人当たりもマナーもよく、変人のようには見えない人物だったとされる。フランスのノルマンディー地方の海運業を営む家庭に生まれた彼は、自ら詩を創作し、作曲を手掛け、大学をクビになりながらも独学でピアノ曲を作曲する才能溢れた人物である。
また、服装への強いこだわりを持っていた。灰色のスーツとそれに合う帽子を1ダースも購入して以来、あらゆる場面においてその服装を半ば強引に押し通したので「ビロードの紳士」という愛称で呼ばれるようになる。やがて彼の作曲した「ジムノペディ」や「サラバンド」が評価されると、彼自身もモンマルトルに拠点を移し、パリの夜の街を舞台に個性的な面々と交流を持つようになる。
一方で彼は内面的な不安定さが有ったらしく、些細な事で親しい友人と口喧嘩になる事もしばしばあった。酒好きでもあった為、よくアルクーユ行きの終電に乗り遅れ朝帰りを繰り返したお茶目な側面もあった。
Satie gave a strong influence on the artists of impressionism and was described “charming and lovable” by many people around him. He was said to have been a man of good nature and good manners, and he was far from eccentric.
Born in Normandy, France, to a family in the shipping business, he was a talented man who could create his own poetry and compose piano music. But he actually taught himself to compose music pieces in his spare time after being fired from the university.
He had his own style in clothing. After he purchased a gray suit and a dozen hats to match it, he almost always wore the same outfit and earned a nickname “the velvet gentleman”. By the time some of his compositions “Gymonopedie” and “Sarabande” had received favorable reputation from the public, he moved to Montmartre and began socializing with eccentric people the nightlife in Paris.
On the other hand, he had emotional instability and often quarreled with his close friends over trivial matters. He was also a drinker, so he often missed the last train to Arcueil and came home the next morning.
