Michel Rodde (1913-2009) Oil on Canvas Painting Portrait of a woman: "La Dame a la Fleur Blanche" Hand signed lower right. Provenance: Findlay Galleries, New York with gallery stamp on stretcher. Dimensions: H 32" x W 32" Rodde Michel, Provencal painter born April 27, 1913 in La Grand-Combe (Gard) and died February 20, 2009 in Aiguèze (Gard). It was during the occupation that he discovered painting. In 1946, an official in the diplomatic administration, he also followed Mcavoy's courses at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière. He was awarded the Othon-Friesz prize in 1952 jointly with Jean Commère. In 1956, he resigned to fill the post left vacant by Robert Humblot at the school of crafts and then in 1965, he succeeded Jean Aujame at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière.He kept an art studio in the heart of Provence, in the small village of Montségur sur LAuzon for more than 30 years, as well as in Paris. Michel Rodde was particularly known for his masterly contrasts of shadow and light. Many French museums contain his works including the Granet museum in Aix-en-Provence, the Calvet museum in Avignon, the modern art museum of the city of Paris, etc. Renowned private collections have his paintings. Jacqueline Kennedy sat for him. He is part of School of Paris artists that included Moise Kisling, Jean Jansem, Raoul Dufy, Claude Salomon, Michel Kouliche, Bernard Buffet, Bernard Lorjou, Claude Venard Jean Dufy, and others. His lithographs were published by Mourlot and he showed at Findlay Galleries, David Findlay Gallery and Carel Gallery Miami Beach. The technique and the color palette are typical of the talent of this beautiful artist. Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters. Knight of the Legion of Honour Participations and Exhibitions: 1953 - Special exhibition at the Galerie Monique de Groote in Paris 1954 - "Young painters and their masters" at the Galerie Montmorency, Winner 1953 Living Art Gallery, Paris. "School of Paris" exhibition, Charpentier Gallery. Exhibition at the Poitiers Museum - Purchase of a canvas by the state 1955 - Special exhibition at the Galerie Matignon on the "Great Works of the Rhône". 1956 - Exhibition "Landscapes of France" at the Romanet Gallery and "Renaissance of Figurative Art" at the Monique de Groote Gallery. 1958 - Exhibition of Figurative Art in Tokyo 1959 - Special exhibition at the Galerie Cartier. Meets the great critic George BESSON. 1960 - Special exhibition at the REED and LEFEVRE Gallery in London. 1961 - Decoration executed for the liner "France". First exhibition at David B. FINDLAY in New York. Visit to the White House following the gift of a painting offered to Jacqueline Kennedy by the City of Pont Saint-Esprit. Discovery of the BARNES Collection in Merion. 1962 - Michel Rodde works on 12 lithographs to illustrate a book in the "Eloge" collection dedicated to him (Editions Manuel Brucker). 1963 - Accepted to offer a painting to the Museum of Bagnols-sur-Cèze. 1964 - Second trip to New York, invited by the David FINLAY Gallery for a second exhibition. 1965 - On the death of Jean Aujame, Michel Rodde is approached to direct his studio at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris. 1966 - "23 painters in Lille", exhibition sponsored by Georges BESSON. Preparation of a suite of the Gorges de l'Ardèche in twelve scenes. 1967 - Special exhibition at the Galerie Marigny in Paris (Gorges de l'Ardèche) Exhibition "Painter of today" organized by Juliette Darle and George Besson at the Château de Saint-Ouen. 1968 - Execution of mural for the Post Office of Dinard 1969 - The amphitheater of the Lycée Agricole de Saint Pouange (Troyes). 1970 - Exhibition at the TAMENAGA Gallery in Tokyo 1971 - Exhibition at the Granet Museum in Aix-en-Provence. Acquisition of a work by the museum. 1974 - Trip to Egypt. 1976 - First exhibition at Artcurial on the theme "La Dame du Front de Seine", monumental figures. 1979 - Second trip to Egypt. 1981 - Second exhibition at Artcurial, "Image of the Nile, Egypt". 1982 - Exhibition in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan 1983 - At the Salon d'Automne a room is dedicated to him for a "tribute". 1985 - Retrospective organized by the "Friends of the Museum of Pont-Saint-Esprit". 1989 - Invited to Japan for three simultaneous openings in Tokyo, Hiroshima, Okayama; Journey to the Inland Sea. Stays in Myajima, Kyoto, Nara, Tokyo. In June, cruise on the Coastal Express (Norwegian Post) to paint in particular in the Lofoten Islands. 1992 - In April, special exhibition on Norway and publication of the book. Purchases by the Museums: Museum of Modern Art of Paris Collections of French and foreign museums: Calvet Museum in Avignon Granet Museum in Aix-en-Provence Museum of the city of Besançon Museum of Bagnols-sur-Cèze Museum of Rodez Algiers Museum Poitiers Museum Yamagata Museum, Japan Paintings in several French Embassies.