Lot 73
Jef Friboulet (French 1919-2003) §
Bathers
£5,000
Auction: 30 April 2021 from 10:00 BST
Description
signed (lower left), oil on canvas
Dimensions
Footnote
Émile Jean Jules Friboulet, known as Jef Friboulet, was a prominent French painter and sculptor. Born in Fécamp in northern France on 11th November 1919, Friboulet showed early signs of being a talented artist. In 1939, he joined the French Air Force where he received the nickname ‘Jef’ from American soldiers who named him after the initials ‘E. J. F’ on his uniform. His skill as an artist was noticed by his superiors and he became an army artist, painting frescos in the cadet bedrooms and communal spaces. Following the war, he became a chauffeur, which granted him access to the countryside where he continued painting. In 1954 he exhibited Le Jardinier in a Parisian exhibition and received such acclaim that he was able to focus full-time on his artistic practise – pushing him to open a large studio in his hometown where he welcomed many amateur and professional artists and also established an association to train young artists. He received numerous accolades during his career including the Prix de Monaco in 1950, the Prix d'Asnières in 1958, and the Prix de la Biennale de Cherbourg in 1964.
