VICTOR DI GESU

(American, 1914-1988)

STILL LIFE OF DAISIES

Oil on Board

17½ x 15 Inches

Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity

Provenance:

Estate of Janet Ament, wife of the artist

 

An exuberant, Post-Impressionist still-life of wild daisies, shown informally arranged in a scarlet and jade glazed vase, set on an emerald green draped table beside a blue-and-white mug, and contrasted against a background of scumbled orchid. An exceptionally fine, mid-century work by this California Modernist and Carmel legend.

 

Winner of the Prix Othon Friesz, Victor di Gesu first attended the Los Angeles Art Center and the Chouinard Art School before moving to Paris where he studied with Andre L’Hote and Yves Brayer at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière. While in Paris, Di Gesu exhibited extensively, including at the Louvre, the Exposition des Artistes Étrangères, the Grand Palais of the Salon d'Automne and the Salon des Arts Décoratifs among other Parisian Salons. He subsequently attended Barcelona's Escuela de Bellas Artes before furthering his studies in Rome at the Studio Hinna. Returning to California, Di Gesu worked beside several notable American Modernists including F. Tolles Chamberlain and Maynard Jepson.

 

Already a gifted colorist, Di Gesu’s classical training combined with his scientific research into color theory, allowed him to create vivid yet harmonious works which, while reminiscent of Matisse and Gauguin, revealed a verve and spontaneity that remained uniquely his own. A prolific artist, Victor Di Gesu was the recipient of numerous medals and juried awards, both in the United States and in France. After his return to California, he continued to exhibit widely and with success, including at the San Francisco Museum of Art, Monterey Peninsula Museum of Art, the Carmel Art Association and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.