Michel Simonidy

La Baigneuse - Art Nouveau Nude Figure in Landscape Oil by Michel Simonidy

1905

Signed oil on original canvas nude circa 1914 by French post impressionist painter Georges D'espagnat. The work depict a nude woman standing beside a wash basin in a boudoir. Signature: Signed lower right Dimensions: Framed: 45"x34" Unframed: 37"x26" Provenance: Private collection - Netherlands From the beginning of his career, it was a constant concern of Georges d'Espagnet to assert his originality. His studies at the École des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, did not last very long, for he wanted immediate independence and decided to follow courses in the private academies of Montparnasse. In about 1900, he became acquainted with Maurice Denis, Bonnard and Vuillard, and his collaboration with Denis led to a renewal of religious art in France. In 1903, d'Espagnet was one of the founders of the Salon d'Automne, and was appointed professor in charge of studios at the École des Beaux-Arts, Paris, in 1934. He illustrated a number of books: Rémy de Gourmont's Evil Prayers ( Oraisons mauvaises) (1896), The Saints of Paradise ( Les Saintes du paradis) (1898), Simone (1907), Sistine ( Sixtine) (1922); Alphonse Daudet's The Immortal ( L'Immortel) (1930); André Gide's The Pastoral Symphony ( La Symphonie pastorale); Francis Jammes' Clearings in the Sky ( Chairières dans le ciel) (1948). D'Espagnet belongs to the group of artists who made the Courrier Français so successful. The drawings of his which are published in it are strongly expressive and some bear comparison with the designs of the great Renaissance masters. He also contributed to L'Image. He often placed cheerful nudes in a landscape, reminding us that, though he moved away from the Fauves, he retained their freedom of colour and arabesque. He painted many portraits, including those of Albert André, André Barbier, Victor Boucher, Déodat de Séverac, Albert Marque, André Marty and Albert Roussel. He also painted mural decorations, including a wall for the Palais de la Découverte (1937), the ceiling of the Victor Hugo Room in the Palais du Luxembourg (1939), a decorative panel for the Palais de Justice, Toulouse (1941) and interior decorations for private houses. His landscapes are Impressionist in inspiration, and work for a certain sobriety, an intimacy, both in their composition - one, two or three sketched figures and large open spaces - and in the choice of colours and treatment with the special hazy brushstroke that marks his style. D'Espagnet took part in a number of annual Parisian exhibitions, including the Salon des Indépendants, the Salon de la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, the Salon d'Automne (from 1903 to 1949, except in special circumstances), the Salon de la Libre Ésthétique, Brussels (1899, 1901), the Berlin Secessionists (1940). He also exhibited at the first Salon de la Société de la Gravure sur Bois. Among other exhibitions were 1912, A Century of French Art ( Centenaire de l'art français), St Petersburg; 1916, Kunstverein, Winterthur; 1918, 1926, Galerie M. Bertheim, Paris; 1930, Contemporary French Art...

Wonderful oil on canvas circa 1960 by French modernist painter Maurice Brianchon. The work depicts a blonde-haired nude seated on a wooden chair turned away from the artist with her chin resting in her hand. Signature: Signed lower left Dimensions: Framed: 38"x33" Unframed: 29"x24" Provenance: Fondation de L'Hermitage (Lausanne) - Exhibition Maurice Brianchon 13th October 1989 - 28th January 1990 As a young man, Maurice Brianchon studied at school in Le Mans before joining the École des Beaux-Arts in Bordeaux. He went on to study at the École des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, remaining there from 1917 to 1923 and working under the direction of Eugène Morand. It was here that he met and became friends with Oudot and Legueult. When he exhibited for the first time at the Salon d'Automne he was immediately elected as a member. He received the Blumenthal Award in 1924 and the Carnegie Prize in 1939. He was a founder member of the Salon des Tuileries and was appointed to serve on the committee in 1941. He also exhibited at the Salon de la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He took part in major exhibitions abroad, including the Venice Triennale, Antwerp, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Madrid, Brussels and Stockholm. He soon made his mark as a decorative artist, creating stage sets for the Opéra for a production of Griséldis (1922) in collaboration with Legueult, and for Noble and Sentimental Waltzes ( Valses Nobles et Sentimentales) (1938), Sylvia (1941) and The Model Animals ( Les Animaux Modèles) (1944). He created a large, decorative piece entitled Symphony at the Palais de Chaillot, where he worked with Chapelain-Midy, Planson and Oudot. He also decorated the Lycée Janson-de-Sailly with murals. With his wife Marguerite Louppe he produced three large panels commissioned by the state in 1942 for the Conservatoire. The Gobelins and Aubusson tapestry works produced tapestries after his cartoons. He also produced cartoons for...

French painter (early 20th century) - Female nude. 100 x 70 cm without frame, 109 x 79 cm with frame. Antique oil painting on canvas, in a gilded wooden frame (some cracks). Condi...

This beautiful French 19th century Orientalist oil painting is by noted French artist Joseph Caraud. It was painted circa 1848 when Caraud was painting Algerian scenes. The compositi...