'Portrait of Renée' by Louis Latapie (1941)

'Portrait of Renée', oil on board, by Louis Latapie (1941). When combined with the artist's passionate brush strokes, the wood panel upon which this piece is painted, creates both a visual and textural artwork that is stunning. The application of impasto technique adds further richness to the piece. Research of the artist's life suggests this portrait is of his second wife, Renée Maurisse, to whom he was married in 1927. This sympathetic portrait suggests the artist's deep love for his spouse. She died in 1971 while they were preparing for his exhibition in the Palace of the Popes for the 25th Festival of Avignon. The artist died the following year. The piece has been newly framed in a tray and recently undergone a cleaning by an art restoration professional. The artist signed the work in the lower right hand. The date and title is listed on the reverse of the artwork now covered by the new backing. Provenance: The previous owner of the painting acquired it directly from the artist's atelier in France. 

About the Artist: Louis Latapie (1891-1972) was a highly celebrated artist who enjoyed an international reputation which continues today. During his long career he exhibited regularly at the major Paris Salons, including the Salon des Indépendants, the Salon d’Automne and the Salon des Tuileries. He had numerous individual and group exhibitions including Art et Résistance Musée d’Art Moderne, Paris in 1946. On his death in 1972, he was honoured, like Braque and Picasso, with a major retrospective at the Palais des Papes in Avignon. Further comprehensive retrospectives of his work were held in 1988 at the Musée Rapin and the Musée des Augustins. Appearing in numerous exhibitions and sold in the major auction houses, his works can be found today in the collections of museums worldwide including the Musée National d’Art Moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou, (Paris); Musée d’Art Moderne, (Paris); Musée d’Art Moderne (Geneva); and the city museums of Toulouse, Avignon and Poitiers. 

“Is this my fault? That in one deep breath, I inhale cubism and exhale fauvism.”

- Louis Latapie, in Louis Latapie , Musées de Sens, 2006 (p. 43)

Dimensions with frame:

H 37 cm / 14.6"

W 29 cm / 11.4"

Dimensions without frame:

H 35 cm / 13.8"

W 27 cm / 10.6"