Victor Di Gesu

'Reclining Nude in Interior', California Post-Impressionist, Louvre, LACMA, SFAA

Circa 1955

Painted circa 1955 by Victor Di Gesu (American, 1914-1988) and stamped verso with Victor di Gesu estate stamp. Winner of the Prix Othon Friesz, Victor di Gesu first attended the Los...

Painted circa 1955 by Victor di Gesu (American, 1914-1988) and stamped verso with Victor Di Gesu Estate stamp. Winner of the Prix Othon Friesz, Victor di Gesu first attended the Los...

A beautiful oil on original canvas circa 1910 by French post impressionist painter Georges D'Espagnat. The work depicats a nude woman in a yellow shawl standing by a blue vase filled with pink, red and white flowers. Signature: Signed lower right Dimensions: Framed: 28"x20" Unframed: 21"x13" Provenance: Doyle New York - May 2003 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...

This painting depicts a whimsical scene of a nude boy wearing an open shirt and sandals. The bright colors and quick brush strokes are what makes this painting so attractive and desi...