Jeff Legg Art

Jean Grimal is a true 20th century discovery. This breathtaking piece is a gorgeous example of his mastery as an artist. He beautifully creates chiaroscuro in this painting. The way the light touches the edges of the Chinese bowl and the grapes is an example of his skill in representing light. Jean Grimal (1942-1998) was born in the town of Tulle, France in 1942. Jean’s family moved to Paris when he was 8 years of age. After receiving a classical French education with studies in Latin and Greek, Jean Grimal entered the University to receive his Baccalaureate. He then attended Claude Barnard School for three years, when he received his Art Degree.  Upon completion Grimal taught art for seven years.  As Grimal’s own interest in formal painting and art began to possess him, the artist’s destiny changed.  In 1967 Jean Grimal stepped aside from teaching and pursued a career in professional painting and working as an illustrator in advertising.  As an advertising illustrator, Grimal worked with Lise Goldfard for more than 25 years at Studio 44 where they collaborated with major and important accounts, such as: Air France, Christofle, Peugeot, Lacoste, to name a few. At the same time he began presenting his formal paintings to galleries in Paris and Cannes, France and in London and Windsor, England.  Much to his surprise, Grimal found that his paintings were sought after by major art galleries and collectors throughout Europe.  After a number of years of being an important and successful art illustrator for these major accounts, he found himself having to choose between the two.  Fortunately for collectors, he chose to dedicate his life to the classical style of painting.  Jean looked at the simplest things in life through a microscope, where he could take the simplest object and depict the age of the fruit or the leaf. Jean Grimal received great pleasure from his work and painted for over thirty years.  As his style matured and became ever more perfect Jean Grimal truly reached the pinnacle of his career.  The artist’s methods were particularly distinguished when measured against his peers.  Grimal’s painting skill was distinctive and exceptional. Jean Grimal was known for his realistic trompe l’oeil and still life paintings.  The artist would carefully arrange the objects to form a satisfying composition.  By painting every shadow, highlight, and reflection within each composition Grimal brought mundane subjects to life.  His tight rendering combined with his attention to light and detail allowed him to blur the lines between illusion and reality, truly making his works one of a kind.  Grimal’s trompe l’oeil paintings consist of intricate compositions of cards, envelopes, photographs, paper of different materials and weights, backs of canvases, images of other artists’ works, kitchen utensils, pistols, and more.  Grimal had a talent for mastering these illusions that deceive the eye in his trompe l’oeil paintings.    No matter what genre Grimal was painting, tight, unperceivable brushwork characterizes his work.  The artist painted every crease and crinkle, every shadow and highlight, every detail.  By doing so, he was able to capture each individual surface texture of the objects in his paintings.  Grimal was also fabulous at depicting light in his paintings- often contrasting strong lights with strong darks, creating chiaroscuro modeling.  His still life paintings are reminiscent of Dutch seventeenth century...

Oil on panel, signed and dated 2018. Classic French black wooden frame with gold leaf. Unframed size: 19.69 inches high x 19.69 inches wide. Framed size: 25.2 inches high x 25.2 inches wide x 1.25 inches deep. Sold framed. Inspired by the modest works of the French painter, Chardin, this classic composition focuses on the simple, zen-like qualities of the gustatory delights of Stefaan’s locale, where bread and cheeses are freshly made and sold at his favorite outdoor market. Interposed with a large knife and antique glass wine bottle...

Oil on panel, signed and dated 2007. Classic French black wooden frame with raised panel and gold leaf. Unframed size: 18.11 inches high x 14.96 inches wide. Framed size: 25.6 inches high x 22.4 inches wide x 1.25 inches deep. Sold framed. Inspired by 17th century Masters, Davidz De Heem and Willem Heda...

Oil on panel, signed and dated 2012. French handmade wooden Delf frame, raised panel with dark gold/bronze patina and gold leaf. Unframed size: 19.09 inches high x 15.75 inches wide. Framed size: 29.5 inches high x 25.125 inches wide x 1.63 inches deep. Sold framed. Stefaan’s tribute to the great French neoclassical painter stems from first seeing Gericault’s horses...

Large scale mid 20th Century French, oil on board, still life, tablescape, interior view, by Claude Barthélémy. Signed bottom left, presented in fine carved wood and gilt frame, with...

Oil on panel, signed and dated 2001. French wooden frame in ivory with gold leaf. Unframed size: 19.7 inches high x 23.6 inches wide. Framed size: 26.4 inches high x 30.5 inches wide x 1 inch deep. Sold framed. The first Eyckmans’ painting to employ a brighter, golden palette, this everyday kitchen scene explores the differing textures of the objects within. The artist’s love of all things French is exemplified here with antique pottery, a starched linen tablecloth, breadboard and, of course, fruit and favorite cheeses. Note the superb shadowing of the board extending over the table, the detailing in the chèvre and paper wrapping to the left, and the asymmetrical cluster of stemmed Muscat grapes, all illuminated by easterly light. Classical in perspective and execution, but with a more contemporary feel that derives from the use of color and light, this painting marks a transformational point in the artist’s work. This painting is available for viewing at The Elemental Garden...

Oil on panel, signed and dated 2013. French handmade wooden Delf frame, black raised panel with silver leaf. Unframed size: 35.4 inches high x 40.6 inches wide. Framed size: 44.1 inches high x 49.2 inches wide x 1.5 inches deep. Sold framed. Quinces are a symbol of fertility, and for the artist, they’re adored for their voluptuous, irregular shape. To him, imperfect fruits are more realistic, more truthful, and most beautiful. In this large composition, the bright, primary coloring of the quinces is heightened by their placement in front of the vintage oil can...

Oil on canvasboard. Framed. No signature found.

Oil paint on canvas Doug Newton’s hyper-real paintings observe reality, explore translucency, reflections and luminosity, and dazzle the viewer with all the ways light can transform...

This 10"x16.5" impressionistic oil painting by Alyona Kostina, is a still life featuring two bright, green pears sitting on a table with a white tablecloth and red wall behind. The ...

Oil on panel, signed and dated 2009. French handmade wooden Delf frame, red bolus ground with gold leaf. Unframed size: 11.8 inches high x 19.7 inches wide. Framed size: 21.3 inches high x 29.1 inches wide x 1.25 inches deep. Sold framed. This striking and animated combination of plums with a 15th Century earthenware bowl placed atop a worn plank table hearkens back to the Old Masters while remaining present-day through its geometric composition and use of negative space. Chosen for the pictorial qualities…their shape, color, scale, and satiny skin, a true representation of plums is difficult to capture, as their essence changes and degrades in a matter of hours. As such, the artist focused on including their essential details in the first layer, a practice that is unusual for him. Note the exceptional detailing in the fine variations of color and shape of the fruit, particularly the stems, and the progressive feel attained through the balance of light and color. This painting is available for viewing at The Elemental Garden in Woodbury, CT, the exclusive U.S. representative for the artist. Stefaan...

French mid century still life, oil on canvas, showing chanterelle mushrooms and the delights of an autumn harvest by Claude Le Baube. Signed to the fron...