André Béronneau (1886-1973) - Weelderige chrysanten

This is an extraordinarily atmospheric and powerful masterwork by the French artist André Béronneau (1896-1973). The piece is sold with the original monumental antique wooden Baroque frame, with a well-worn, rustic look.

This bouquet of lush chrysanthemums immediately draws the eye with its fabulous depth and tangible energy. Béronneau has masterfully employed the impasto technique here. The oil paint is applied in rich, thick layers on the canvas, causing the petals to emerge almost three-dimensionally from the background. In particular, the central white and golden-yellow flowers catch the light in a spectacular way.

This painting transcends the traditional still life. Thanks to the loose, dynamic brushwork, there is a palpable liveliness and drama in the bouquet. It is a beautiful "statement piece" that remains an absolute focal point in both a classical and an eclectically modern interior.

Bottom right, the painting is authentically signed by the master himself.

- Artist: André Béronneau (1896-1973)
- Medium: Oil painting on canvas
- Title: Luxurious chrysanthemums
- Style: Post-impressionism
- Year: 1945
- Dimensions: 50 x 60 cm (frameless); 66 x 78 cm (with frame)
- Signed: bottom right + name plaque
- Sold with frame

Biography:

André Béronneau was a prominent French post-impressionist painter who enjoyed great renown in the first half of the 20th century. He is chiefly known as a master of capturing the French landscape and maritime scenes.

André Béronneau was born in Bordeaux, France. He showed exceptional talent for painting early on, which led him to study at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts in Paris.

During World War I, Béronneau presumably remained at the front in Macedonia (part of the French troops around Thessaloniki), as evidenced by the rare watercolors he made there of local mosques and landscapes. After the war, he settled definitively into the French art world.

Although he received an academic training at Beaux-Arts, Béronneau developed a very recognizable, looser style that was heavily influenced by Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. He drew inspiration from the great masters of light and texture. His technique is characterized by the use of a palette knife and the impasto technique, applying paint in thick, expressive layers to create relief.

Béronneau was a respected member of the Parisian art elite and exhibited for decades on the major venues. He exhibited very regularly at the Salon des Indépendants between 1925 and 1935. He also took part in leading annual Paris salons, such as Salon d’Hiver and Salon des Artistes Français.

On several occasions, Béronneau was officially recognized with prestigious prizes, including the Médaille d'Argent (Silver Medal) at the Salon d’Hiver and the Prix Fargeon, awarded by the jury of the Salon des Artistes Français.