'The Painter and the Models' by Jean Marzelle (c. 1950s)

'The Painter and the Models' (c. 1950s) , oil on canvas, by French artist, Jean Marzelle (1916 - 2005). The painting depicts an artist in front of his easel, in shadow, directing his two models in their nude poses. The artist's studio is open to the outdoors exposing the clear skies of a Provençal summer. Splashes of impressionists' pigment liven this tableau with hues of blue, green, yellow and brown. In very good vintage condition in the original frame. This is a stunning work by an artist whose works appear in both private and public collections and are lively in the international auction houses. In the lower right hand corner it is signed, 'Marzelle'. On the rear of the painting you will find another signature and text: 'Le Peintre et les models'. A short video clip of this work can be provided upon request.

About the Artist: Jean Marzelle, (1916 - 2005) born in Lauzun, France was attracted to painting at a very young age. He enrolled in the School of Fine Arts in Montpellier and then moved to Paris to meet like-minded young artists with whom he shared a studio on the Rue Mouffetard. Marzelle eventually settled near Aix-en-Provence by Mont Sainte-Victoire. He also travelled extensively in Spain and created a body of work in that country. In 1953, Marzelle was the subject of a major exhibition at the Marcel Guiot gallery in Paris and a catalogue was created for the occasion with a preface by Jean Bouret, famous French art critic and writer. Marzelle has an extensive oeuvre with exhibitions in Europe and in the United States at the Modern Gallery in New York. Since his death in 2005, three solo exhibitions were dedicated to his works, in Gentilly, and two in Paris including at the well known Galerie Bernheim-Jeune, better known for being early sponsors of the careers of Matisse, Cézanne, Monet, Renoir and Bonnard.

Dimensions with frame:

H 44 cm (17.3")

W 52 cm (20.5")

Dimensions without frame:

H 32 cm (12.6")

W 39 cm (15.4")