Jean Rigaud was born in Bordeaux, France on June 15, 1912. He studied under the famed Pierre Gaston Rigaud, his father. Educated at the L’Ecole des Beaux Arts (a college of fine art) in Paris, he refined his technique.

Following in the path of his father by choosing impressionism as his mode of artistic expression, Jean Rigaud developed his own unique style. Using small delicate strokes, pastel-like hues of cream, lavender, blue and pink accentuated by dots of pure color. His oils blend together to form charming country settings, European street scenes and distinct views of well-known cities. While he paints a variety of subject matter, Rigaud specializes in marine studies most noteworthy, his cityscapes of Venice, Italy.

As a young man he exhibited regularly at La Societe Nationale des Beaux Arts. He was a member of the selection jury and the committee as well. Along with this distinguished honor, Rigaud won the gold medal – Medaille d’or – in 1937 at the Exposition Universelle; the Prix des Messageries Maritime – a shipping line prize – in 1952; The Prix du Maroc – Morocco – in 1953; Painter of the Sea in 1956; and the Charles Cottet prize in 1957. Jean Rigaud died in 1997.

Of special notice, Jean Rigaud’s high status and professionalism as an artist has been confirmed through his inclusion in the world famous encyclopedia of European art masters, E. Benezit Dictionnaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs et Graveurs. “Jean Rigaud” a biography by Jean Dueros, prefaced by Charles Durand-Ruel, 1976.

Museums:

• Musée de la Bordeaux Dax
• Musée de la Marine,
• Musée de Niort
• Poiters,
• Pointoisse
• Sceaux
• Strasbourg and Tours

PRIZES, EXHIBITIONS AND MURAL DECORATIONS

Prizes:

• 1937 Gold Medal at the Universal Exhibition
• 1952 Messageries Maritimes prize
• 1953 Prize of Morocco
• 1956 Named Official Painter of the French Navy
• 1957 Charles Cottet prize

Exhibitions:

• 1938 First private exhibition at the Charpentier Gallery, Paris
• 1941-1983 Private exhibitions in France, Austria, Egypt, Holland, Morocco, Switzerland
• 1956-1974 Private exhibition every two years at the DURAND-RUEL Gallery, Paris.

Paul Durand-Ruel was the one who discovered the Impressionist painters and the DURAND-RUEL Gallery became the most famous one in Paris until Charles Durand-Ruel closed it forever in late September 1974. Since that time, Jean Rigaud worked with the art dealer, Genevieve Areas who introduced him in the United States in 1979.

Mural decorations:

• 1937 Universal Exhibition “House of Guyenne and Gascogne”
• painting (115 x 16 feet) executed with his father Pierre-Gaston Rigaud.
• 1944 Paintings for the church of Pontonx-sur-Adour, Landes.

Salons:

• Salon Comparaison
• Salon des Grands et Jeunes
• Salon de la Marine