Robert Vernet-Bonfort, French Neo Expressionist Surreal Oil Painting Robert Vernet Bonfort Deaf Artist

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Robert Vernet-Bonfort (French, 1934-2017) LA VIEILLE MAISON Oil painting on canvas Hand signed lower right, signed and inscribed on verso … Read more Robert Vernet-Bonfort (French, 1934-2017) LA VIEILLE MAISON Oil painting on canvas Hand signed lower right, signed and inscribed on verso In a heavy carved frame Dimensions: 19 ¼ x 23 ¾”, frame 29 x 33 Provenance: Cambridge Art Gallery, Brentwood, California. Born in Marseille, France in 1934, he began his life as a healthy, happy child. Rendered deaf by an early childhood illness, Vernet-Bonfort embraced visual arts in study and practice as a refuge from the silence of the outer world, permitting elaborate expression through a vivid and colourful visual language. He studied at L'école des Beaux-Arts in Marseille from 1948 to 1957. A frequently exhibited and lauded French artist active since the 1950's, Vernet-Bonfort's work demonstrates the intersection of old and new masters' technique, with a strong personal sensibility with an element of surrealism. Upon completion of his studies he was awarded the Prix Claverie, the first of many future accolades. The year of his graduation also marked his first gallery exhibition at the Galerie Reboul in Marseille. In the next decade Vernet-Bonfort exhibited in many French cities, earning many honours, including the Prix de l'U.N.A.M., for Young Mediterranean Artists He has exhibited over the years with Albert-Ernest De Carrier-Belleuse, Maximilien Luce, Jean Pesce, Lucien Guerber, Honore Jacquet, Georgette Nivert, Yvon Grac, Horace Richebe, Marius Woulfart, Francois Diana, Pierre Trofimoff, Joseph Milon, Serge Diakonoff, Henry Marcel Robert, Robert Kiener, Joseph Stamboulian, Jean Pierre Maltese, John See, Rudolf Muller, Eugene Blot, Georges Darel, Wilhelm Bernhard Benteli, Franco Colella. After a successful exhibition in 1964 at the Madden Galley in London, Vernet-Bonfort was awarded the Elizabeth T. Greenshields Foundation Great Award, which allowed him a year of paid study in the United States. Vernet-Bonfort identified his main influences as book illustrator Antoine Humboldt, figurative sculptor George Oudot, and celebrated painter Gustav Klimt. His work is part of the French Provencal school dominated by the sensuous colors and striking contrasts found in the rural and maritime landscapes of southern France and Spain, and his technique has been characterized as stylized realism with a surrealist element. This eclectic expressionist palette is reflected in his technique, best expressed as stylized realism. Vernet-Bonfort has enjoyed international success, He died in Nans-les-Pins, France in 2017. A famous French deaf artist. Exhibiting since 1975 France: Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand Luxembourg: Mullerthal Suisse: Genève, Bale États-Unis: Boston, Dallas, Chicago, Grand Rapid, Houston, Miami, New York Monaco: Monte-Carlo Angleterre: Londres Canada: Montréal Awards: Elisabeth T. Greenshield Foundation Grand Prize (1965, Montréal), Caverie Award (1957), Dorothy Gould Award (1963). He was part of the "Modern School of Marseille". Prominent artists associated with Marseille and Provence include: Adolphe Monticelli, a precursor to Fauvism and Expressionism, his technique of thick, contrasting paint earned him the admiration of Vincent van Gogh. He painted scenes of the local landscapes and seascapes. Émile Loubon Director of the Marseille drawing school, he is regarded as the founder of the Provençal school. He encouraged his students to paint outdoors, directly engaging with the region's landscapes. Jean-Baptiste Olive, A marine artist who specialized in depictions of the port of Marseille and the surrounding coastline. His work is known for its vibrant color and energetic brushwork. Paul Guigou, A realist who was known for capturing the arid, sun-drenched landscapes of Provence. Modernist painters with a connection to Marseille include Félix Ziem, Though born in Burgundy, Ziem moved to Marseille and received informal art training from Monticelli. He painted many landscapes and seascapes, including scenes of the Marseille port. Edward Wadsworth, An English modernist who discovered Marseille and was captivated by the city. His work during this time is sometimes associated with Magic Realism. Henri Matisse, Although most associated with Nice and the French Riviera, the Mediterranean light that drew him to the south also influences the broader Marseille art scene. There were also the Artists of the Support/Surface movement: This French art movement of the 1960s and 70s included painters who challenged traditional methods. The École des Beaux-Arts of Marseille, under director François Bret, was a hub for this movement which included the celebrated sculptor Cesar. See less