The House Chef, Large Impressionist Portrait, Signed Oil Painting

The House Chef, Large Impressionist Portrait, Signed Oil Painting By French artist Claude Benard, (1926 – 2016) Signed by the artist on the top left hand corner Signed and address written by the artist verso Oil painting on canvas, unframed Canvas size: 39.5 x 29 inches Wonderfully raw impressionist of a woman hard at work. Her outfit suggests she is a house cook, with the apron and and her hair scraped back in a functional manner. She is quite a buxom lady, strong and in the zone. The thick brushstrokes are very pleasing with this oil painting, showing a bold technique and beautiful colour palette. Claude Benard was born in Cholet in 1926 but shortly after his family moved to Angouleme (1928), where he was to live until his death in 2016. Studying at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris and also in the studios of Cheyssial and Fougerat. At the age of 21, he began exhibiting at the Salon des Artistes Francais. After time traveling to broaden his artistic experience he returned to his home town to continue painting professionally. He became a Professor at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Angouleme from 1957-1980. Benard exhibited with numerous prestigious institutions throughout France and abroad, including the Salon des Artistes Francais, Salon des Independants and the Salon d’Automne, Paris. He was the holder of more than seventy awards. In 1978, he founded the Cercle Angoumousin des Arts and in 1979 organised a Salon of Contemporary Art in Angouleme bringing together celebrated artists from the Charente region. His style evolved from figurative in the 1960’s, through to Surrealism into the 1970’s and onwards. Four tribute exhibitions of his works were held in Angouleme in 1972, 1984, 2001 and 2017. This is one of many paintings we have by this artist, please contact if you wish to view more. provenance: the artists estate, France Condition report: The painting and canvas are both in very pleasing condition.