Biography

20th century French artist Yves Brayer was born in Versailles, but spent most of his childhood in Bourges. Determined to be an artist from an early age, he set out for Paris in 1924, initially studying at the academies in Montparnasse, and from there he attended the École des Beaux-Arts.

 

Whilst still a student he exhibited at the Salon d'Automne and the Salon des Indépendants, and in 1927 Brayer left Paris for Spain with the aid of a state grant to enable him to study the works of the Spanish Masters in the Prado. This was followed by a stay in Morocco after being awarded a prize by Maréchal Lyautey, and thereafter a period spent in Italy in the early 1930s.

 

On his return to Paris in 1934 he exhibited a collection of paintings inspired by his travels in Europe and Morocco at the Galerie Charpentier to great acclaim.

Brayer continued to paint in occupied Paris throughout the Second World War, and also designed the costumes and sets for a ballet performed at the Opera de Paris in 1942.

 

Having moved south to Cordes in the Tarn region of France after the War, Brayer then discovered the area which was to have the greatest artistic influence on his work: Provence. He was enchanted by the diverse and architectural forms of the Alpilles, and by the vast expanse of the Camargue region with its ubiquitous white horses and black bulls.

 

From then on he spent several months each year working in Provence. He also made various trips to Mexico, Egypt, Iran, Greece, Russia, USA and Japan where he was quick to grasp the unique rhythm and light of each country.

 

A large collection of Yves Brayer's paintings are on permanent display both at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Cordes, in the Salle Yves Brayer and at the Musée Yves Brayer in Les Baux de Provence, as well as various museums in France and elsewhere.

 

Yves Brayer died in 1990.

Sold artworks
  • Yves Brayer, Vue de Cannes
    Vue de Cannes
    Yves Brayer
  • Yves Brayer, Plage de Nice
    Plage de Nice
    Yves Brayer
  • Yves Brayer, La Baie de Cannes
    La Baie de Cannes, 1969
    Yves Brayer
  • Yves Brayer, Vue de Menton
    Vue de Menton, 1978
    Yves Brayer
  • Yves Brayer, Vue de L’Hotel Meurice, Paris
    Vue de L’Hotel Meurice, Paris, 1969
    Yves Brayer
  • Yves Brayer, Oliviers dans L’Île de Majorque
    Oliviers dans L’Île de Majorque, 1968
    Yves Brayer
  • Yves Brayer, Les Collettes à Cagnes-sur-Mer
    Les Collettes à Cagnes-sur-Mer, 1957
    Yves Brayer
  • Yves Brayer, Le Port d’Alicante
    Le Port d’Alicante, 1955
    Yves Brayer
  • Yves Brayer, Florence, vue de Fiesole
    Florence, vue de Fiesole
    Yves Brayer
  • Yves Brayer, La Départ de la Course du Palio
    La Départ de la Course du Palio
    Yves Brayer
  • Yves Brayer, Toréadors dans la Campagne
    Toréadors dans la Campagne
    Yves Brayer
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