Jean ABADIE (1921-2010) - Princesses des Alpilles - Oil on canvas mounted on chassis Signed bottom left, title on the back Size: 81 X 65 cm Nice format. In perfect condition. ********************************************************************************************* Biography: Ref.: Art Finding Jean Abadie (1921-2010) is a figurative painter. From Tarbes, he became painter in Tours area after moving to Ballan Miré where he lived for over forty years. Former student of the Beaux-Arts of Toulouse, successively gunner, police constable, advertising cartoonist and teacher at the Brassart School of Tours, his vocation is late. He did not launch himself into painting until the early 1960s, especially pushed by Maurice Genevoix of the Académie Française. Exceptionally talented in drawing, his sketchbooks follow him during all his campaigns: from Indochina to Morocco through Tunisia and Algeria. His first oil paintings date from late 1940s. Gradually few exhibitions of his artwork took place, first in the barracks world and then quickly outside, as his painting, steeped in humanism, contrasts with the military world. Portraits, still lives and scenes of rural life are his favourite subjects. Some stays in the Ile de Ré in early 60s inspire his painting and so his first individual exhibitions. The interest they encounter led him to persevere. He left the military life and went to Paris where he attended the groups “de la Ruche et de l'Echelle” (Lorjou, Buffet, Rebeyrolle, Jansem, Collomb, Gallard..). He even meet Chagall. Quay of the Seine, he meets the gallery owner, Raymond Duncan who ask him to cross the Atlantic. In 1965 he won the Grand Price of New York. The success will then follow; he exhibited in Rome, in the Middle East (UAE, Kuwait), in Moscow (Pushkin Museum), in Leningrad (Hermitage museum - currently St. Petersburg), in London, Lausanne, St Paul de Vence, Quebec, Frankfurt, Japan... The biggest salons pay homage to him until this consecration: the medal of honour of the French artists, which is awarded to him by his peers in 1993 at the Grand Palais. Rooted in a great tradition, his painting is characterized by a hot line from a palette dominated by yellow, ochre and sienna. He plays with his very special treatment of light. A hymn to harmony, to nature, to authentic. Its visitors do not make mistake about his artwork when writing in his exhibitions guestbooks: "amazing, gorgeous, art in its fullness", "an emotional inwardness". Jean Abadie painted and repainted the same scenes inspired by his travel journals: Angkor-vat, Mékong, Albaracin, Ouagadougou, Venise, Florence, Moscou, Saint Petersbourg, Marrakech, Amsterdam, Honfleur, Eygalières, Sarlat, Collonges-la-rouge... are his favourite themes as well with the circus and the religious themes. The Way of the Cross of the Church in Ballan-Miré (Indre and Loire), where the painter lives, is one of his major artworks. You can also admire they, a St Martin and an Adoration of the Magi. A visit to the town hall is also needed to see some specimens of large formats that characterize him related to the life in the country side and carnival of Venice themes. Jean Abadie is also official painter of the armed forces. A mission that he treats in his own way. As such, he paint a very original canvas depicting a surgical operation to the Val de Grace Hospital. In all circumstances, this pacifist's eye feeds on the interest and attention he gives to others. Observer, he has this modest formula: "Peindre la vie, relève autant du respect que du sacré". A remarkable book of 160 pages with many works ("J.ABADIE - Couleurs d'une vie" - par Béatrice Duhamel-Houplain et Rémi Rodier - Procom 2008) prefaced by Jean-Marie Zacchi, Honorary President of the Artistes Français, pays a superb tribute to him. As the book was release in Abadie’s lifetime, he signed a few copies, shortly before his disappearance.