BELLET: PERSONAL HISTORY

Emile Bellet was born in Provence, France in 1941. He began to paint at 5 years old and, by the age of 19, he held his first exhibition in 1960. When he was only 12, Bellet won first prize in a national art journal. In 1976, his career began in earnest when he was noticed by Galerie Guigne. Bellet completed the stained glass windows of the church “Notre Dame de Bon Voyage” (Our Lady of Happy Travels) in 1978, in Port de Bouc, France—a beautiful display of his talent. He was also commissioned by the Alpine Maritime Region to paint the work, “Travaux des Champs” (Work in the Fields).

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Every morning, Bellet was known for rising early and easing into his activities of the day—he called this his “second breathing state.” He arranged flowers, tended to his olive trees, and decoded the various themes of his paintings in his head. Bellet thought about his paintings for hours during the morning, had lunch, and then began working around noon for the rest of the day.

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He enjoyed painting “en plein air” as the Impressionists did, choosing to paint the villages and scenery from his native France. He lived high up in the mountains, taking in the breathtaking colors of the Mediterranean that suit his painting perfectly. By painting outdoors, Bellet felt like he was bringing a small piece of Van Gogh to our time.

Bellet passed peacefully on July 1, 2022. He is survived by Ile, his wife, and millions of collectors and fans.

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Source Parkwest Gallery