'Portrait of the Nephew of the Artist' by René Seyssaud' (circa 1930s)

'Portrait of the Nephew of the Artist', oil on canvas, by René Seyssaud (circa 1930s). Known for his use of vivid colours in his landscapes and depictions of workers in their fields, this is a rare portrait of a family member, his nephew, to whom he dedicated the artwork. Beneath his curly reddish-brown hair, is a serious face with a self-reflective gaze. His bright yellow pullover contrasts with the green backdrop drawing in the viewer's eye. The painting is in good overall condition having recently been refurbished by an art restoration professional. It is signed and dedicated by the artist in the upper right hand. Upon request a video will be provided.

About the Artist: René Seyssaud (1867-1952) was a Provençal painter who studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Marseille, his hometown, then in Avignon. Noted for his powerful temperament and his bold palette of bright colours, he preceded the Fauvists in his use of colour. He strove to develop his own language, was never guided by a mentor and kept apart from the schools and movements of the day. He also turned his back upon the powerful French Academy, preferring instead to exhibit in small independent salons. But there were also continual pressures on Seyssaud to conform. Unable - like, say, Paul Cézanne - to draw on financial support from his family, he had, from the outset, to live from his art, paint to commission and produce commercially pleasing work. His vision, bold and ahead-of-its-time at the start of his life, looked somewhat conventional as time went on and he seemed not to be in a position to react to new modernist currents. Still, Seyssaud's rich, sensuous and passionate work grandly represents the tradition of Provençal art.

Dimensions with frame:

H 76 cm / 29.9"

W 65 cm / 25.6"

Dimensions without frame:

H 66 cm / 26"

W 55 cm / 21.7"