Version française

In Remembrance of portrait artist José Galvan (1910-2001). Paris Montmartre. Magic Art Impressionism

BIOGRAPHY of GALVAN José - painter with MONTMARTRE Workshop:31, street Gabrielle - PARIS 18th

GALVAN José was born on July 30, 1910 - ASPE (Province of ALICANTE - Spain) died on August 25, 2001 BENIDORM (Spain). To the 19 years age, he lived in ALCOY (Spain) and worked in industrial school where he drew copies. There his Professors noticed his work and directed him to section "drawing according to nature". After the civil war, he followed evening courses in BARCELONA (school REAL CIRCULO ARTISTICO). He painted living models then. He exposed nudes, portraits and landscapes in BARCELONA, PERPIGNAN (1959-1960) and in MONTPELLIER. GALVAN settles in BUTTE MONTMARTRE in PARIS in 1962 and exposed at the Living room of free Art. With the Large Palate, it is present at the exposure of the Spanish painters of PARIS, organized by the Ministries for the Culture of France and Spain. With MONTMARTRE, he takes part in the manifestations of the Town hall of XVIIIe and shows his works in the hall of the Saint-Pierre church. The biography of the Spanish painter, José GALVAN, appears in the DICTIONARY OF PAINTERS A MONTMARTRE (1999) - Editions Andre ROUSSARD - 13, street of the Mount Cenis 75018 PARIS FRANCE

Spanish artist José Galvan settled in Paris in 1962 and from this time his life became connected with Montmartre for ever. In last two centuries shrine of art Montmartre lodged a lot of artists from different countries, those who flew their own countries and sought safety or those who sought romance and colleagues leading world's artists. From the nineteen century Paris dictated not only fashion, but also movements of art. Origin of modernism also can not be disembodied from France.

But modern art did not touch the most sensitive soul of artist José Galvan. Art impressionism cast a glamour the artist, and he chose this mean of artistic expression. As like Masaccio was born with temperament of Giotto in next century as artist José Galvan was born with temperament of Renoir. Looking at his pictures we feel how strong were his feelings to his native country Spain, its harbors, its songs, dancers and showgirls, to Paris and Parisians. Only being in Montmartre, walking on the ground that was stepped by his favorite artists was for him supreme happiness. This happiness made him got dizzy, because this happiness was too large for a human being. This happiness was a reason of his long enough life. It seems inspiration never leaves him. In some aspects creative work of José Galvan can be related with sentimentalism of Spanish artist Murillo and with tenderness of young Goya. Yes, art of José Galvan is sweet, sweet to inconceivable degree, but this sweetness is so true, poetic, sublime and excused that the author can not be objurgated in any case.

We can compare Galvan's copy of Renoir LES JEUNES FILLES AU PIANO with original for the seeing their differences that are the differences between French impressionism and its variation by Galvan. Galvan is more monumental, broad brushed. If Renoir concerns more about details, Galvan about the whole of picture. José Galvan paints mixing paints on palette. Galvan's contrasts of values are less, lights warmer and softer, motions of figures also softer and more natural, lines play greater role. Galvan is a master of wavy vibrating line. Especially it is seen in drawing below TROIS ETUDES DE NUS. Galvan more spiritual. He converts prose of Renoir into poetry. Thus we may conclude that painting of José Galvan is particular mixture of French impressionism and Spanish classical art. If Renoir went toword modernity, José Galvan tried to seek eternal valuables.

Jurate Macnoriute

Pages from Art History of art journal THE SECRETS OF PERFECTION

Copyright © José Galvan
Copyright © 2003, THE SECRETS OF PERFECTION

To discover more information on José GALVAN, click here :