Jean Grimal

Still Life with Flute and Red Cardinal, Oil painting on canvas by Jean Grimal

20th century

Catherine Jansens’ watercolour titled "Vanitas" is a compelling still life that delves into the theme of the transience of life and the inevitability of death—an idea traditionally e...

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...

With The Red Parasol, Edgard de St-Pierre De Montzaigle delivers a painting that speaks to the viewer both visually and emotionally. The young woman, lost in thought, is sheltered by...

This painting is a perfect example of lyrical abstraction and a choice painting out of the best period of Vlerick's career. Geen nachtschade (No Nightshade), 1962 Oil on Masonite board 121 x 61 cm (without frame) 136 x 75 cm (framed) Signed and dated bottom left ‘P. Vlerick 1962’& with title, signature place and date at the back Pierre Vlerick...

Still life - Salvatore Marinelli Italia 2010 - Oil on canvas cm.70x100 Salvatore Marinelli's painting is inspired by the painting by Anne Vallayer-Coster French painter. Music score painting is a rare type of painting that represents a musical work in the form of a score. It is present in all eras and in many pictorial schools. The use of musical notation, in painting, is appropriate in paintings with...

Realist still life painting by contemporary Houston artist Scott Woodard. The work features an opulent setting with an intricate mirror, a side table with a collection of white vases...

AGNIESZKA STAAK-JANCZARSKA (born in 1994) A graduate of the State Secondary School of Art of Józef Kluza in Krakow. In 2020, she graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow in ...

STILL LIFE - Oil on canvas painting by Massimo Reggiani, Italy 2006 The origins of still life can be found in Dutch painting. At the beginning of Dutch painting, artists included add...