'The Church in Billy' by André Lemaître (1936)

'The Church in Billy' (Calvados Region Normandy), oil on canvas by André Lemaître (1936). Billy is a former commune in Normandy, France. This depiction is mostly likely the church of Saint-Aubin located in Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer. The church was built in three stages commencing in the 12th century. The painting is beautifully composed with clean lines coupled with an artistic restraint that is mesmerising. The artist, a native of this area, documented the villages, landscape its people. In good overall condition, it has recently undergone a cleaning by an art restoration professional. It is newly framed with a French-style linen slip and signed / dated by the artist in the lower left. Please enjoy the many photos accompanying this listing. Upon request a video may be provided. 

About the Artist: André Lemaître (1909-1995). Lemaître did not stop drawing since childhood and began to paint seriously around 1926. After studying at the Caen Normal School, he became a schoolmaster in Billy (Calvados area) in 1932 yet continued to paint. This Norman artist created most of his artwork in Calvados. From 1960, he devoted himself exclusively to his work and settled in Cesny-aux-Vignes where he set up a workshop. He received the Gold Medal of French Artists in Paris in 1972. He is said to have been a prolific artist known for having painted the Norman countryside, still lifes, portraits and other large compositions. Starting from a fairly traditional impressionism, he succumbed to the influence of Cézanne having, in 1936, attended a major retrospective in Paris, then of Vlaminck after 1945, before forging a personal style that some may qualify as 'Abstract Realism'.

Dimensions with Frame:

H 54 cm / 21.3"

W 46.5 cm / 18.3"

Dimensions without Frame:

H 41.5 cm / 16.3"

W 33.5 cm / 13.2"