Gérard BONTEMPS

Criticism

An excellent teacher can have a decisive influence upon a future painter: this was the case for Gérard Bontemps who was born in Petit-Quevilly and whose studies at the Lycée Corneille in Rouen allowed him to benefit from the teaching of that awe-inspiring painter who was Henry SERGENT; one of the stars of Normandy painting in the 40s. This was how Gérard BONTEMPS was able to study at the l'Ecole des Beaux at the Aître Saint Maclou and become an artist of talent whose works graced the walls of exhibitions and galleries in the region. First and foremost, this artist was a painter and decorator who, through the use of colours that were often unusual, played with atmospheres that ranged from very warm to very dark, in an almost touching impression created by a number of often familiar objects. Gérard Bontemps mastered light effects in consummate silence and composed, arranged and diversified the simplest elements while maintaining a strange and fascinating charm. His soundly confident way of placing motifs gave rise to canvases exemplifying alternations of charm and confidence. Never are vain repetitions to be found in Gérard Bontemps’ paintings. Instead, a purposeful knowledge of values and balance characterized a series of works where his enthusiastic and creative personality is strikingly and distinctly reflected. He was as faithful to his style as he was to his friends who included Gérard Boudin with whom he was friends for 26 years.

André RUELLAN, art critic

Exhibitions

Du 22/03/2014 au 23/03/2014 : SAINT-JEAN-DU-CARDONNAY : 30è EXPOSITION DE PEINTURE ET DE SCULPTURE AU FOYER RURAL

Du 23/03/2014 au 24/03/2014 : SAINT-JEAN-DU-CHARDONNAY : 30e SALON DE SAINT-JEAN-DU-CHARDONNAY AU FOYER RURAL