'A Street in Beaune' by Yves Brayer (1961)

'A Street in Beaune', watercolour on woven art paper, by Yves Brayer (1961). This painting is a wine lover's delight. Behind the foreground structure, Brayer draws the eye toward one of Burgundy’s most storied landmarks, the Hôtel-Dieu (Hospices de Beaune), the grand medieval hospital at the heart of the city. Nestled immediately beside it, sharing both courtyard and roofline, is the Chapel of the Hospices de Beaune built as part of the original 15th-century hospital complex and inseparable from it ever since. Brayer captures this corner of Burgundian life with his characteristic warmth and intimacy. Beaune itself is the wine capital of Burgundy — home to the great négociant houses and a labyrinth of underground cellars, some dating back centuries. Each November, the Hospices de Beaune wine auction draws the world’s attention to this small city, setting benchmark prices for the region’s finest vintages and channelling millions of euros each year back into the local hospital system — the living legacy of the very building at the heart of this painting. The artwork is in good overall condition. The beautiful frame presents a warm patina with some characterful nicks and blemishes adding to its vintage charm. The artist signed the work in the lower left hand. Mr. Olivier Brayer confirmed that the work is listed under number K1473 in his archives. Please enjoy the many photos accompanying the listing. Upon request a video will be provided.

Dimensions with frame:

H 78 cm / 30.7"

W 66.5 cm / 26.2"

Dimensions without frame:

H 52 cm / 20.5"

W 40 cm / 15.7"

About the Artist: Yves Brayer (1907-1990) was born in Versailles, France. Determined to be an artist from an early age, he set out for Paris in 1924, initially studying at the academies in Montparnasse, and from there he attended the École des Beaux-Arts. Whilst still a student he exhibited at the Salon d’Automne and the Salon des Indépendants, and in 1927 Brayer left Paris for Spain with the aid of a state grant to enable him to study the works of the Spanish Masters in the Prado. 

On his return to Paris in 1934 he exhibited a collection of paintings inspired by his travels in Europe and Morocco to great acclaim. Having moved south to Cordes in the Tarn region of France after the War, Brayer then discovered the area which was to have the greatest artistic influence on his work: Provence. He was enchanted by the diverse and architectural forms of the Alpilles mountains, and by the vast expanse of the Camargue region with its ubiquitous white horses and black bulls. From then on he spent several months each year working in Provence. He also made several trips to Mexico, Egypt, Iran, Greece, Russia, USA and Japan where he was quick to grasp the unique rhythm and light of each country.

A large collection of Yves Brayer’s paintings are on permanent display both at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Cordes, in the Salle Yves Brayer and at the Musée Yves Brayer in Les Baux de Provence, as well as various museums in France and elsewhere. Yves Brayer died in 1990.