Bather - Jules Casimir Wielhorski (1875-1961)

An oil on canvas measuring 67X62 cm representing a bather, Art Nouveau work dated 1907 by Jules Casimir Wielhorski (1875-1961)

Jules Casimir Wielhorski, born December 16, 1875 in Nancy] and died February 24, 1961 in Kérity (Penmarc'h), is a French painter of Polish origin. His talent for drawing was spotted from childhood and he quickly became the best student of Emile Larcher, renowned drawing professor at the École des Beaux-Arts in Nancy. In 1895, he won the first prize for drawing and painting in the city of Nancy. On July 25 of that same year, he was awarded first place at the Beaux-Arts in Paris. In November 1896, he won first prize in the competition for painted sketches with an oil on canvas whose heroic subject already foreshadows the ancient themes of the Villa Primavera and which is entitled Andromache supplicating Thetis before her altar (École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts de Paris). His master was Léon Bonnat (1833-1922). In the Art Nouveau style, he decorated the restaurant room of the Langham Hotel in Paris. For the Villa Primavera in Cap-d'Ail, he was a decorator. After the war, he became a drawing teacher in two Parisian schools. His life ended in Kérity (Penmarc'h), at the age of 85.