Pierre Douillet-Chevoleau (French, b. 1938)

Pierre Douillet-Chevoleau
(French, b. 1938)

"Aristide et les Soeurs Ripolin ou l'art du Blaireautage"

oil on canvas
signed and titled lower left.
Framed.
51-1/2" x 76-1/2", framed 57-1/2" x 82-3/4"

Notes: Raymond Douillet-Chevoleau has long been acclaimed for his meticulous brushwork enhanced by layers of smooth varnish, his deep, rich color palette reminiscent of that of the Renaissance masters, his painstaking attention to detail, and his masterful composition. Rife with symbolism, his paintings reference everything from classical mythology, ancient mystery cults, alchemy and pop culture, and, additionally, frequently toy with word play and double entendre. His works, though gratifying on a purely aesthetic level, require an intellectual curiosity on the part of the viewer to be truly appreciated. The painting offered here includes in its title alone allusions to the French sculptor Aristide Maillol and his most famous work "The Three Graces", representations of which flank the main scene. The three central figures are indicative of the initiation rites of the Eleusinian Mysteries and are a nod to the early 20th-century advertisements for the French/Spanish enamel company, Ripolin. The term blaireautage refers to the artistic technique which employs the use of soft-haired brush (historically badger) to smooth the traces of brushstrokes.
Douillet-Chevoleau is a longtime member of the prestigious Salon des Artistes Francais and the Salon d'Automne.