Jean Chevolleau, "the Black Bell Tower, Ile De Ré", Oil On Canvas

"Le clocher noir, île de Ré" is an oil on canvas painting by Jean Chevolleau (1924-1996) from 1991. A French painter who distinguished himself by his realistic and poetic approach to landscapes, mainly those of the Vendée region where he was from. A member of the group of "Painters of Poetic Reality", and close to the artists of the Puteaux group, notably Jacques Villon, Chevolleau was able to combine tradition and modernity in his works, using vibrant colours and meticulous technique to capture the essence of the places he painted. "I am in love with geometry, I give the construction of a canvas the greatest interest. The color will intervene as if written in a precise drawing, which gives this impression of a puzzle in certain compositions" explains the painter, adding: "My first concern is to build and rebuild." Here, using his intense blues and playing with abstraction and figuration, Chevolleau pays particular attention to the black bell tower of Ars en Ré, an emblematic symbol of the region. At the beginning of the 19th century, the bell tower of Ars, like the other bell towers on the island of Ré, were painted white and black to serve as a landmark, in other words a navigational marker, for sailors navigating in the Pertuis. The tradition continued until the landmarks were declassified in 1954, following changes in the state of the coastal markings of Charente-Maritime decided by the management of Lighthouses and Beacons. Today, only the bell tower of Ars has retained its colors, which stand out on the horizon for miles around. In Chevolleau's composition, in the middle of colorful abstract lines, we can easily recognize this pointed shape divided into two flat black and white areas, surrounded by a wide black line which, like a lighthouse or a rocket ready to take off, stands out clearly from the background: the black bell tower of the church of Ars en Ré. The work is signed at the bottom right, confirming the authenticity of the piece. On the back of the canvas, it is titled, located, and dated, offering a precise and detailed context of the scene represented. An identification error titles this canvas "the black bell tower of Saint-Martin en Ré", here it is indeed that of St-Etienne d'Ars en Ré! Enjoy an exceptional view without ever being woken up by the bells. A silent but eloquent centerpiece!