Jean Fusaro “the Beach Of Sète”

LYONNAISE PAINTING – Jean Fusaro (born 1925), "The Beach at Sète," 1951 – oil on paper laid down on canvas, signed lower right – dimensions: 32.5 x 50 cm – original frame. According to the artist’s recollections, this painting depicts his own family vacationing alongside the family of his friend, the painter François Desnoyer (1894–1972). Jean Fusaro was born in Marseille on June 19, 1925. His parents, both art enthusiasts, fostered his artistic education and introduced him to painting through frequent visits to museums. The family lived in Lyon, where, in 1941, Fusaro enrolled in the École des Beaux-Arts. He remained there for five years, during which time he met fellow artists André Cottavoz, Pierre Coquet, Juvin, Philibert Charrin, Truphémus, and many others—all key figures in the renowned "Lyon School." Together, they formed the group known as the "Sanzistes." This name was coined by Philibert Charrin to capture the attention of visitors during an exhibition at the chapel of the Lycée Ampère in 1948; the term—implying "without an -ism"—was intended to stand in contrast to movements like Cubism, Fauvism, and Impressionism. Jean Fusaro worked with great rigor, earning the trust of collectors and gallery owners in both Lyon and Paris. By 1950, his work had been acquired by museums in Geneva, Annecy, and Saint-Étienne. In 1953, Jean Fusaro—along with his friend Cottavoz—received the Prix Fénéon, followed by the Prix de Marseille in 1957. He became an instructor at the École des Beaux-Arts in Lyon, his hometown, where he played a significant role in the local artistic scene between 1969 and 1975. His students included Alain Demond, Evelyne Chevalier, and Alain Barrier. From the 1970s onward, his work was exhibited regularly. During the 1950s, he held exhibitions in Lyon at the Galerie des Jacobins and the Galerie Folklore, and later in Paris at the Galerie Art Vivant. The artist from Lyon soon gained recognition in the capital, leading to invitations to exhibit in England, Canada, Switzerland, and the United States; he also became a featured artist at the Galerie Tamenaga (with locations in Japan, Paris, and the U.S.). From that point on, he drew inspiration for his paintings from his travels—to places such as Sète, Venice, Rome, and Istanbul—with many of his works focusing on ports. He also produced numerous paintings depicting Oullins, capturing its streets and rooftops. Beyond his canvases, his work can also be found on the walls of the church of Saint-Jacques-des-Arrêts in the Beaujolais region, as well as in one of the stained-glass windows of the church in Vourles.