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Jared French Biography
Jared French was an American painter, sculptor, and photographer, born on February 4, 1905, in Ossining, New York. He is best known for his work in the medium of egg tempera and for being a key figure in the art movement known as Magic Realism. French's work is characterized by psychologically charged compositions that often feature eerie, dreamlike scenes and figures drawn from classical statuary.
French's journey into the arts began after he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Amherst College in 1925. During his time at Amherst, he studied with the renowned poet Robert Frost, which likely influenced his later work that is rich in symbolism and narrative depth. After college, French moved to New York City, where he worked as a clerk at a Wall Street firm while taking classes at the Art Students League. It was here that he met Paul Cadmus, who would become his lifelong friend, collaborator, and lover.
In 1931, French and Cadmus embarked on a two-year trip through Europe, seeking artistic and sexual freedom. They settled in Mallorca, where they began to develop their signature artistic styles. Upon returning to the United States, French and Cadmus shared an apartment and studio in Greenwich Village. French found employment with the Mural and Easel Painting Section of the Public Works of Art Project, where he created works that demonstrated his interest in the idealized human form—a preoccupation he shared with Cadmus.
In 1937, French married artist Margaret Hoening, who was fifteen years his senior. Despite his marriage, French maintained his relationship with Cadmus and identified as bisexual. That same year, the Frenches rented a summer cottage in Saltaire, Fire Island, where they, along with Cadmus, formed the photography collective PaJaMa—an amalgamation of their first names. The collective captured artfully posed photographs of themselves, their friends, and members of the gay community on the beaches of Fire Island, Nantucket, and Provincetown. These photographs not only documented their lives but also served as studies for French's paintings.
French's early paintings were influenced by Archaic Greek statues, but his style evolved significantly in the 1940s. His figures became highly stylized and rigid, reminiscent of ancient Greek and Egyptian statues. He was inspired by psychologist Carl Jung’s theories of the collective unconscious and early Renaissance Italian artists such as Andrea Mantegna and Piero della Francesca. French imbued his paintings with a sense of timelessness through the use of archetypal forms and symbolic, improbable juxtapositions.
In 1942, French was included in the exhibition "American Realists and Magic Realists" at the Museum of Modern Art. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, French traveled extensively across Europe with the Frenches and Cadmus, often accompanying them. His forms became increasingly biomorphic as the years progressed.
French's work can be found in numerous prestigious institutions, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. His murals are also on display at the Court House Annex in Richmond, Virginia, and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York.
Eventually, French moved permanently to Rome, primarily to pursue a relationship with Roberto Giannotta. He continued to create art that explored the human condition and the complexities of personal and social identities. Jared French passed away on January 8, 1988, in Rome, Italy, leaving behind a legacy of work that continues to intrigue and inspire audiences with its enigmatic beauty and depth.
Jared French Quotes and Sales
of Works
Ponti Art Gallery selects and deals with paintings by the
artist. Upon request, we provide free estimates and
evaluations, communicate prices, quotations, and current
market values.
If you are interested in BUYING or SELLING works by the
artist, contact us immediately.
If you wish to sell or receive an evaluation of the
works:
Send us a frontal photo of the painting, one of the back,
and one of the signature. Also, indicate the dimensions of
the work. Inform us about the purchase origin of the work
and any kind of available documentation (purchase
receipts, certificates of authenticity, publications). One
of our operators will respond to you on the same day. We
guarantee maximum confidentiality and extreme
professionalism.
If you wish to purchase works by the painter: Contact us
and let us know your request. We will inform you about the
available works. We also offer the possibility to
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informed at the beginning of each month about the latest
acquisitions of the art gallery.
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