Jean Rigaud
Encyclopedia
Jean Rigaud is a well-listed French painter
. He was born on June 15, 1912 in Bordeaux
, France
to the well-known painter, Pierre Gaston Rigaud (1874-1949). The Rigauds moved to the village of Guyenne in 1914, shortly after World War I
began. It was during this time that Jean Rigaud received his first formal training under his father, Pierre Gaston, who was also a well-respected teacher. During this time, Jean was encouraged to develop his own style and talents, which utilized "pure color tones (ochres, yellows and red cadmium) which [stood] out triumphantly against grey skies."
In 1925 Jean Rigaud was invited to exhibit his works at the Salon d’Art Ancien Espagnol in Paris, where he became a regular. Jean also continued his formal education at l’Ecole des Beaux-Arts
in Paris at the Atelier André Dewambez. While at the Atelier, Jean Rigaud began to develop his unique impressionistic
style and techniques. He also began painting marine subjects for which he became known. However, this did not mean that he did not paint other scenes. As "a painter of instinct," who focused on scenery, villages and abodes were not out of the realm. Examples of these works include "Tolede: Contre Jour" a 28 ¾" x 19 ¾" oil on canvas painting "L'Isle Adam," and "Ker Guerin, Île d'Yeu." However, according to a brief biography by Banks Fine Art, Rigaud "saved little room for precise depictions of the human figure in his works."
From 1938 to 1976, Jean Rigaud participated in 53 one-man exhibitions, including at the Galerie Durand-Ruel in which he was featured every other year from 1956 to 1974. Furthermore, as a tribute, The Galerie Durand Ruel featured Rigaud’s work in their final exhibition as a "Grand Finale."
During his lifetime, Jean Rigaud was invited to exhibit his work at all of the leading Paris Salons, which included the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts
, Salon "Comparaisons", Salon du Dessin et de la Peinture a l’eau and the Salon de la Marine. Rigaud also exhibited his works in Casablanca
, New York
, and Strasbourg
. He also received a Gold Medal at The International Exhibition in Paris in 1937, the Prize of Messageries Maritimes in 1952, the Prize of Maroco in 1953, and the Prize of Charles Cottet
in 1957 as well as "Painter of the French Navy" honors in 1956.
Jean Rigaud’s works are featured in many private and public collections across the world. His paintings are also permanently exhibited at the National Museum
in Paris, Musée de la Marine
, Musée de Niort, Musée de Tours, Musée de Poitiers, Musée Mulhouse, Musée Chalet, Musée Pontoise, and Musée Strasbourg
. Jean Rigaud is also well listed in over a dozen prestigious books on art.
Jean Rigaud died in 1999 in Paris, and immediately after his passing, the Musee de la Marines mounted a one-man retrospective of his work, which was met with great critical acclaim.
"Jean Rigaud is placed without doubt in the great tradition of realist and impressionist painter
."
and chiefly Maurice Boitel
whom he brought in car for painting to Yport
(Normandy
), into Ile de Sein
(Brittany
), and whom he convinced to come and paint in Yeu island
.
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
. He was born on June 15, 1912 in Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to the well-known painter, Pierre Gaston Rigaud (1874-1949). The Rigauds moved to the village of Guyenne in 1914, shortly after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
began. It was during this time that Jean Rigaud received his first formal training under his father, Pierre Gaston, who was also a well-respected teacher. During this time, Jean was encouraged to develop his own style and talents, which utilized "pure color tones (ochres, yellows and red cadmium) which [stood] out triumphantly against grey skies."
In 1925 Jean Rigaud was invited to exhibit his works at the Salon d’Art Ancien Espagnol in Paris, where he became a regular. Jean also continued his formal education at l’Ecole des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts refers to a number of influential art schools in France. The most famous is the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, now located on the left bank in Paris, across the Seine from the Louvre, in the 6th arrondissement. The school has a history spanning more than 350 years,...
in Paris at the Atelier André Dewambez. While at the Atelier, Jean Rigaud began to develop his unique impressionistic
Impressionism
Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement that originated with a group of Paris-based artists whose independent exhibitions brought them to prominence during the 1870s and 1880s...
style and techniques. He also began painting marine subjects for which he became known. However, this did not mean that he did not paint other scenes. As "a painter of instinct," who focused on scenery, villages and abodes were not out of the realm. Examples of these works include "Tolede: Contre Jour" a 28 ¾" x 19 ¾" oil on canvas painting "L'Isle Adam," and "Ker Guerin, Île d'Yeu." However, according to a brief biography by Banks Fine Art, Rigaud "saved little room for precise depictions of the human figure in his works."
From 1938 to 1976, Jean Rigaud participated in 53 one-man exhibitions, including at the Galerie Durand-Ruel in which he was featured every other year from 1956 to 1974. Furthermore, as a tribute, The Galerie Durand Ruel featured Rigaud’s work in their final exhibition as a "Grand Finale."
During his lifetime, Jean Rigaud was invited to exhibit his work at all of the leading Paris Salons, which included the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts
Société Nationale des Beaux Arts
Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts was the term under which two groups of French artists united, the first for some exhibitions in the early 1860s, the second since 1890 for annual exhibitions....
, Salon "Comparaisons", Salon du Dessin et de la Peinture a l’eau and the Salon de la Marine. Rigaud also exhibited his works in Casablanca
Casablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
, New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
. He also received a Gold Medal at The International Exhibition in Paris in 1937, the Prize of Messageries Maritimes in 1952, the Prize of Maroco in 1953, and the Prize of Charles Cottet
Charles Cottet
Charles Cottet , French painter, was born at Le Puy-en-Velay and died in Paris. A famed post-impressionist, Cottet is known for his dark, evocative painting of rural Brittany and seascapes...
in 1957 as well as "Painter of the French Navy" honors in 1956.
Jean Rigaud’s works are featured in many private and public collections across the world. His paintings are also permanently exhibited at the National Museum
Musée National d'Art Moderne
The Musée National d'Art Moderne is the national museum for modern art of France. It is located in Paris and is housed in the Centre Pompidou in the 4th arrondissement of the city. Created in 1947, it was then housed in the Palais de Tokyo and moved to its current location in 1977...
in Paris, Musée de la Marine
Musée national de la Marine
The Musée national de la Marine is a maritime museum located in the Palais de Chaillot, Trocadéro, in the XVIe arrondissement of Paris. It has annexes at Brest, Port-Louis, Rochefort , Toulon and Saint-Tropez...
, Musée de Niort, Musée de Tours, Musée de Poitiers, Musée Mulhouse, Musée Chalet, Musée Pontoise, and Musée Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
. Jean Rigaud is also well listed in over a dozen prestigious books on art.
Jean Rigaud died in 1999 in Paris, and immediately after his passing, the Musee de la Marines mounted a one-man retrospective of his work, which was met with great critical acclaim.
"Jean Rigaud is placed without doubt in the great tradition of realist and impressionist painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
."
His friends
Among his colleagues, his closest friends were Louis Vuillermoz, Daniel du JanerandDaniel du Janerand
Daniel du Janerand was a French painter artistborn in the "Marais", center of Paris, on 18 July 1919.-Artistic life:*École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris;*Member founder of the Salon "Comparaisons";...
and chiefly Maurice Boitel
Maurice Boitel
Maurice Boitel Maurice Boitel Maurice Boitel (July 31, 1919 – August 11, 2007 in Audresselles (Pas-de-Calais), was a French painter.-Artistic life:Maurice Boitel belonged to the art movement called "La Jeune Peinture" ("Young Picture") of the School of Paris, with painters like Bernard Buffet, Yves...
whom he brought in car for painting to Yport
Yport
Yport is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France. The residents are known as Yportais or Yportaises.-Location:...
(Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
), into Ile de Sein
Île de Sein
The Île de Sein is a French island in the Atlantic Ocean, off Finistère, 8 kilometres from the Pointe du Raz , from which it is separated by the Raz de Sein. Its Breton name is Enez Sun...
(Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
), and whom he convinced to come and paint in Yeu island
Île d'Yeu
Île d'Yeu is an island and commune just off the Vendée coast of western France.The island's two harbours, Port-Joinville in the north and Port de la Meule, located in a rocky inlet of the southern granite coast, are famous for the fishing of tuna and lobster....
.
Sources
- Jean Rigaud. Banks Fine Art. 2006. http://www.banksfineart.com/html/Detail.asp?WorkInvNum=161&whatpage=artist
- Jean Rigaud. La Galerie Du Chateau. http://www.dicart-net.fr/PHOTOS/RIGAUD/Amg0000.htm