André Bardet (9 January 1909 – 2006) was a French painter born in Clermont Ferrand, France. Self-taught, Bardet first began painting at the age of 17. In his hometown of Coudes in Auvergne, Bardet was discovered by Victor Charreton, a notable

Impressionist Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement characterized by relatively small, thin, yet visible brush strokes, open composition, emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passag ...

and a member of the

School of Paris The School of Paris (french: École de Paris) refers to the French and émigré artists who worked in Paris in the first half of the 20th century. The School of Paris was not a single art movement or institution, but refers to the importance ...

. Charreton began to serve as a mentor for the young Bardet, assisting him in developing his signature brushstroke. Bardet was not only influenced by Charreton, but by many other prominent

Impressionists Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement characterized by relatively small, thin, yet visible brush strokes, open composition, emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passa ...

as well. The influence that

Impressionism Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement characterized by relatively small, thin, yet visible brush strokes, open composition, emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passa ...

had upon Bardet is apparent in his painting.

Career

Bardet had an eighty-year storied career as an international painter (1926-2006). His subjects ranged from city streets in France to waterfront views in the United States. Bardet is particularly recognized for his exceptional ability to portray light and movement in his various paintings. In 1987, Bardet was awarded the Silver Medal of "Academie Europeanne des Arts de France." Subject Matter Many of Bardet's paintings depict scenes in various cities of

Normandy Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...

Provence Provence (, , , , ; oc, Provença or ''Prouvènço'' , ) is a geographical region and historical province of southeastern France, which extends from the left bank of the lower Rhône to the west to the France–Italy border, Italian border ...

Auvergne Auvergne (; ; oc, label= Occitan, Auvèrnhe or ) is a former administrative region in central France, comprising the four departments of Allier, Puy-de-Dôme, Cantal and Haute-Loire. Since 1 January 2016, it has been part of the new region Auve ...

, and near

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. ...

. In addition to this, Bardet painted several pieces outside of his native France. One of his prominent paintings, for example, features a view of the

Navesink River The Navesink River is an estuary, approximately 8 mi (12 km) long in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. It is surrounded by the communities of Middletown, Red Bank, Fair Haven and Rumson. Known officially as the North Shr ...

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York (state), New York; on the ea ...

from a cliff beside a dock. "The Navesink" is one of Bardet's most recognized paintings. In addition to France and the United States, Bardet painted and exhibited in Japan. ''"When the light draws my eye and the subject grabs hold of me, that’s when I have to paint immediately.” - André Bardet'' Throughout his career, Bardet captured the reflections, torments, and brilliance of water, the opalescence of the gray ocean, and the harsh blues of the

Mediterranean Sea The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the ...

. He portrayed muted Parisian morning mist, clouds in

Fécamp Fécamp () is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy region in north-western France. Geography Fécamp is situated in the valley of the river Valmont, at the heart of the Pays de Caux, on the Alabaster Coast. It is aroun ...

, Kersaint in

Bretagne Bretagne may refer to: Places *Brittany, the historic province in northwestern France called ''Bretagne'' in French *Brittany (administrative region), the present-day French region, also called in French ''Bretagne'', smaller than the historic pro ...

at low tide, and the Buron Castle looming over the plains of the

Allier River The Allier ( , , ; oc, Alèir) is a river in central France. It is a left tributary of the Loire. Its source is in the Massif Central, in the Lozère department, east of Mende. It flows generally north. It joins the Loire west of the city of Ne ...

. Bardet additionally brought to life animated streets with lively people at markets and cafés. These scenes are just some of many that Bardet painted throughout his life.

Exhibitions

Bardet held many group and one-person exhibitions including: Club Pernod,

Champs Elysees Champs may refer to: Music * The Champs, a U.S. instrumental music group * Champs (Brazilian band), a Brazilian boy band * Champs (British band), a British folk- and indie rock-influenced band * The Fucking Champs, a U.S. progressive heavy metal ...

, Paris: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988; Hotel Mercure, Clermont Ferrand: 1988; Town Hall of Levallois: September 1988; Caisse d’epargne, Clermont Ferrand: 1989. Sales and Auctions •

Limoges Limoges (, , ; oc, Lemòtges, locally ) is a city and Communes of France, commune, and the prefecture of the Haute-Vienne Departments of France, department in west-central France. It was the administrative capital of the former Limousin region ...

Aurillac Aurillac (; oc, Orlhac ) is the prefecture of the Cantal department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Aurillacois'' or ''Aurillacoises''. Geography Aurillac is at above sea le ...

, Clermont Ferrand: 1990 Shows/Fairs • French Artist –

Grand Palais The Grand Palais des Champs-Élysées ( en, Great Palace of the Elysian Fields), commonly known as the Grand Palais ( English: Great Palace), is a historic site, exhibition hall and museum complex located at the Champs-Élysées in the 8th ...

, Paris • Japanese Festival of

Osaka is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan, following Special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population of ...

from 1984 to 1989 • Panorama of Contemporary Painting,

Berne, Switzerland german: Berner(in)french: Bernois(e) it, bernese , neighboring_municipalities = Bremgarten bei Bern, Frauenkappelen, Ittigen, Kirchlindach, Köniz, Mühleberg, Muri bei Bern, Neuenegg, Ostermundigen, Wohlen bei Bern, Zollikofen , website ...

• European Academy of Arts, France – Silver Medal Publications • International Art Directory – SERMANDIRAS Editions 1986/87, 1988/89, 1990/91 • Classification of painters – AKOUN – 1991 • “ARGUS” Guide – 1990 • Le Semestriel des Arts; MINITEL 36 15 COTE DES ARTS

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bardet, Andre 21st-century French painters French male painters Artists from Clermont-Ferrand 20th-century French male artists 1909 births 2006 deaths French landscape painters 21st-century French male artists 20th-century French painters