Raymond Feuillatte (1901-1971) was born and died in Neuilly-sur-Seine, where he had his studio at 5 Villa des Sablons. He studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and then at the École des Arts Décoratifs, where he received his first prize in 1924. In 1933, he was awarded a travel grant from the City of Paris for North Africa, and the press praised it: 'We must praise the election of Mr. Raymond Feuillatte, who is a fine artist' (Comœdia, July 10, 1933). Lasting for two years and with a value of 18,000 French Francs, it allowed him to travel through Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, and also to exhibit there. In 1934, in Tunis, he presented a selection of paintings in the hall of the newspaper Le Petit Matin. On this occasion, a columnist praised the artist's stylistic evolution, noting that he brought 'a softer hue to the coloring of his African canvases than before; the indoor scenes specify nuanced characters of figures conceived in tones of remarkable freshness and richness' (L’Afrique du Nord illustré, December 8, 1934, p. 9).

Two years later, in the Comœdia of February 12, 1935, Gaston Poulain echoed the return of the prodigal artist to mainland France: 'It is [...] a harvest that Raymond Feuillatte has brought back from his long stay in North Africa. A generous, vibrant harvest of ardent vitality, capable of once again drawing the attention of tourists to regions of magnificent immutability.' In this extensive article dedicated to him, the painter highlighted the studious nature of his journey: 'I return with hundreds of paintings, watercolors, and sketches'. These artworks would continually influence his oeuvre, but they should not overshadow his Arcadian landscapes around Les Baux-de-Provence and his realistic and sometimes dark chronicles of Parisian life, which featured whimsical characters - acrobats, circus performers, and other demi-monde figures - as seen in two drawings preserved at the Centre Pompidou (Les clowns, 1935, and Au café, 1938).

In 1936, as an honor, Raymond Feuillatte was chosen by the Fine Arts Commission of the French Olympic Committee to represent French art at the Berlin Olympic Games with his artwork Cavaliers (location unknown), described as 'a work rich in shades and executed with finesse' (L’Auto, February 11, 1936). In 1940, his participation in the Salon d’Automne was noted by Jean-Daniel Maublanc, who described him as 'a young talent full of admiration for Raymond Feuillatte and great confidence in him' (Le Petit Haut-Marnais, November 24, 1940).

Also a talented illustrator, prolific decorator, and creator of tapestry designs, Raymond Feuillatte was a member of the Salon d’Automne, of which he became president in 1941, and vice-president of the Salon Populiste in 1951. **Just a short distance from his studio, on September 19th, Aguttes will auction over a hundred lots from the studio collection of this endearing artist, Raymond Feuillatte, all of which will be sold without reserve prices.

**
Raymond Feuillatte (1901-1971), Promeneuse près d'un pavillon, 1934 (Lot 129, from a reunion of three paintings)


Raymond Feuillatte (1901-1971), Danseuse espagnole (Lot 145, from a reunion of three paintings)

Auction
Tuesday, September 19, 2023
Click here to access the auction

For further information, please contact
Pierre-Alban Vinquant
+33 (0)1 47 45 08 20
vinquant@aguttes.com