Mid-Century French Still Life Painting by Hubert Gaillard

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A Mid-Century Modern still life painting by French Realist artist Hubert Gaillard (1912-2003) entitled “La Cruche” (the jug). Oil on … Read more A Mid-Century Modern still life painting by French Realist artist Hubert Gaillard (1912-2003) entitled “La Cruche” (the jug). Oil on canvas. Signed and dated lower right: Gaillard 1962. A dramatically lit and richly colored still life depicting objects on a shallow ledge or table including a terracotta pottery jug, ceramic bowl, onions and a leek. The background view of a moonlit island and lighthouse lends the composition a surreal aspect. Well executed in a realist style. Period frame shows some wear.

Hubert Gaillard was born on August 24, 1912 in Saint-Didier-sur-Chalaronne Ain and died September 26, 2003 in Lyon. In 1935 he went to Paris to follow the courses of the National School of Decorative Arts until 1939, under the direction of Leo Deshairs. In the 1950s, following the sensitive structured and geometric style of Cubism, he produced a number of oil (on canvas or wood) originals. In the 1960s, he was experimenting with glazes in cold and warm tones. Already form, space and light were the components of his paintings he exhibited in 1962. He also met the Reality Group whose leader was Henri Cadiou and a long friendship developed between them.

On the back of the stretcher is a small remnant of‍ the distinctive blue and white label that read: from the Vincent Price collection Sears Roebuck and Co. In 1966, Sears and Roebuck, then America’s most popular retailer hired Vincent Price to sell fine art to the public. An accomplished connoisseur and collector, Price already had contacts in the art world and was given carte blanche to choose the works for the initial collection. The program sold over 50,000 original masterworks, etchings, and folk pottery across department stores to make art accessible to the general public. This painting represents the exact kind of "accessible masterpiece" the program intended to bring to the public.

Overall dimensions: 17.5”H x 26.5”W x 1.75”D
Sight: 14.5” x 23.5” See less