Claude Gaveau, Le Marbre Vert, Undated

Oil on canvas
100 x 81 cm
Condition: Good, slight abrasion on both sides of the work

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The white section of the painting changes color depending on the lighting. At sunset, it takes on an orange hue — quite an unusual effect! The curator demonstrated this to me in a room equipped with a light controller.

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Claude Gaveau (French, b. 1940) was born into a family of artists, with his grandfather having been the creator of the Verges du Jardin des Plantes in Paris. He entered the École des Arts Appliqués in Paris in 1955, studying mural art for five years. In 1960, he continued his studies at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, where he honed his skills in oil painting, pastels, lithography, and gouache. His talent was soon recognised, earning him a scholarship from the Academy of Antwerp in 1963 to study Flemish painting.

Gaveau was greatly influenced by masters such as Cézanne, Braque, and Dufy. He also drew inspiration from music, lyricism, and the landscapes he encountered on his travels.

Internationally recognised for his nudes and still life compositions, Gaveau’s work is distinguished by a vibrant yet soft palette, often described as having a silk-like quality. This lends a subtlety to his paintings, which are frequently characterised as "symphonic"—perfectly balanced between abstraction and realism, imbued with a sense of mystery and singularity that makes them instantly recognisable.

Acquired from Opera Gallery, New York.

(Photographed in March 2025)