Still Life With Melons By André Even

André Even 1918 - 1997 Painter André Even is a French painter known for his figurative style. He studied in the Souverbie studio at the Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts in Paris, then he joined Maurice Denis. 1953, from this date he exhibited regularly in Paris at the Salon of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, the Salon des Indépendants, the Salon d'Asnières, the Salon de l'Art Libre. In 1961, the exhibition took place at the RG gallery where he won the Bretagne prize at the Salon of the Société Nationale des Beaux Arts. Then, in 1965, he received the Taylor prize at the Salon des Indépendants and the silver medal at the Salon des Artistes Français. In addition to these Parisian salons, his works have been presented in several renowned galleries, including the Galerie Charpentier and the Galerie Bernheim-Jeune. He was influenced by the artistic movements of his time, while developing a personal style characterized by bright colors and rigorous composition. His works often capture the beauty of the landscapes and genre scenes of Brittany, his native region. He is recognized for his ability to capture the essence of rural life. André Even was born on May 16, 1918 in Pont-Aven, the son of Yaouen Even, a miller, and Louise Bisquay. His family ran a grain business and he was sent to the Collège Saint Gabriel in Pont-l'Abbé as a boarder. During his childhood, he rubbed shoulders with renowned painters such as Emile Jourdan and Henri Delavallée. After serving five years in the French Navy during World War II, he returned to Pont-Aven and became a drawing teacher. At the same time, he helped his mother in the grocery store she had opened. André Even then continued his studies at the School of Applied Arts and Monumental Art for frescoes and at the School of Fine Arts in Paris in the studio of Jean Souverbie. He also perfected his skills under the direction of Maurice Denis at the Centre d'Art Sacré. In 1946, he participated in the restoration of church frescoes for Historic Monuments. He worked in particular on the frescoes of the Hôtel de Sully in Paris, the Bayeux Cathedral and the Juay Abbey. His first major achievements included the fresco of the Sainte Thumette church in Névez and the murals of the "Le Vallon doré" ballroom in Querrien. In the 1950s, Even produced numerous frescoes, including those of the Saint Cœur de Marie church in Concarneau and the Sainte Jeanne d'Arc church in Lorient. He exhibited regularly in Paris and participated in international exhibitions, notably in New York and San Francisco. In 1955, after his mother's death, he moved to Paris while acquiring a house in Lijou-Trébellec in Brittany, where he set up a studio. He married in 1956 and had three daughters. In the 1960s and 1970s, Even made stained glass windows and practiced lithography, producing several series of landscapes. In 1975, he decided to settle permanently in Brittany. He continued to exhibit and receive awards, while contributing to the decoration of various places, such as the submarine bases of Ile Longue and the Arsenal of Brest. André Even died on March 14, 1997 in Lorient. He is buried in the Pont-Aven cemetery.