Raphaël Toussaint (pseudonym of Jacques de la Croix; born 25 April 1937, in La Roche-sur-Yon), is a French painter residing in the Vendée department. Landscape designer, he practices “poetic reality”.

Raphaël Toussaint
Raphaël Toussaint in his studio in 2001.
Born
Jacques de la Croix

(1937-04-25) April 25, 1937 (age 87)
Educationself-taught
Known forPainting and Lithography
AwardsMédaille de la Ville de Paris, Chevalier des Arts et Lettres, Prix Germain David-Nillet
Websitewww.raphael-toussaint.fr

His motto as a painter is:

"Knowing how to see, knowing how to perceive, knowing how to design"[1]

Biography

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In 1956, while studying classical singing, Jacques de la Croix, the future Raphaël Toussaint, met the one who became his wife in 1959. As a result, he met René Robin: the father of his future wife who ran a store in La Roche-sur-Yon which later became the Robin gallery. For Raphaël Toussaint, this meeting was a determining element that influenced the course of his life.

"The genesis of this rebirth [is] due to the meeting of another Yonnais, René Robin, director of the art gallery that bears his name"; explains journalist Bertrand Illegems.[2]

“Without his father-in-law, the irreplaceable René Robin, always present in his works, who trained and supported so many painters (Albert Deman, Henry Simon, Paul Dauce, Joël Dabin, Roger Ducrot ...), Raphaël Toussaint would not have become what he is today, a magician of beauty in the service of truth”, writes journalist Hervé Louboutin.[3]

Called to do his military service, it was in 1957 that he embarked in civilian clothes on the Sidi Bel Abbès II bound for Oran (Algeria) where he disembarked on 13 July. He studied at the Nouvion military camp near Oran at the 21st RTA. On 16 November, he was assigned to the 2nd RI 3rd company, at "ferme 35" in the Aumale region south of Algiers. Seriously wounded during the night of 8–9 April, he was repatriated to France in May and permanently retired as a major war invalid.[4]

 
Vacances à Saint Raphaël by Raphaël Toussaint (1963).

After this injury, Jacques de la Croix could no longer continue studying the classical singing he had practised since his adolescence. His career as a singer halted, he decided to devote himself entirely to painting, helped by his father-in-law, René Robin, and he changed his name to become Raphaël Toussaint. With René Robin, he came into direct contact with the landscape and began his first period. His painting Holidays in Saint Raphaël would determine the profile of what became the definitive expression of his art.[5] René Robin directed him towards naive art, because he felt that his vocation is there thanks to his patience and meticulousness. Until 1970, he worked under the secrecy of anonymity in order to make sure that his choice to devote himself entirely to painting was not an adventure without a future.[6] It was in 1965 that he began his first exhibitions in different galleries and that he was selected the following year to participate in the Salon “Comparaisons” at the Grand Palais (Paris).[7] A few years passed where he affirmed his talent and in 1971 he was appointed Member of the Salon d'Automne. “Be congratulated and thanked, your work is beneficial, it carries within it the true values of life, the quiet and firm certainty that happiness is in simplicity, and not in money which is a lure. To build a work such as yours, in our times of anguish and iron, dear Raphaël Toussaint, is to bring us closer to the angels ... ” declares Édouard Georges Mac-Avoy, the president of Salon d'Automne, in 1990.[8]

His life as a professional and official painter then came to light. It was in 1973 that he formalized his pseudonym Raphaël Toussaint by means of a notarial deed. In a publication in 2004, the art collector and critic Henri Griffon considers him a symbol of this movement of expression of modern primitive. “He is not an imitator, nor a follower, he is Toussaint. On the walls of a gallery, the informed eye will recognize the invoice of a great master ” , thus estimates Henri Griffon.[9]

Paris-Grand Palais-Exposition 1982 “The Genius of the Naive”

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The following year, at the Salon de la Nationale des Beaux Arts, he was appointed Associate by President François Baboulet.

 
On a beautiful winter morning by Raphaël Toussaint (1988).

He exhibited his painting, On a beautiful winter morning. This painting was stolen from the Grand Palais in Paris during the Salon de la Nationale des Beaux Arts and never found.[10]

To pay tribute to his Mentor René Robin, whom he includes in all his paintings, Raphaël Toussaint publishes a wax seal which is affixed to the back of each of his works as a second signature.

Wanting to give a new dimension to his career, he wrote and implemented in 1990 a work of art The very rich hours of Raphaël Toussaint,[11] prefaced by various personalities from the world of the arts including Paul Guth.[12] The latter writes: "Raphaël Toussaint, a naive painter? ... A problem that bothers him. In France, country of labels, we stuck this one on the overcoat. And to me too. Him, in painting, me in literature for my romantic cycle of the Naive. Labels twins. Did this naive title bother you? he asks me. I answer for both of us: yes and no. Naive does not mean silly, beta, idiotic. Naive comes from the Latin word nativus, as on the day of his birth. The naive is the one who is born every day, and the world with him. It has the spirit of childhood, one of the treasures of Saint Francis of Assisi".[13] He exhibited in numerous salons and galleries in France but also in particular in the United States (in Texas and Florida.[14] In Paris, he exhibited at Galerie 93 du Faubourg Saint-Honoré for twenty-five years, between 1965 and 1991 (gallery closed).[15] Locally, the Vendée department organized a major retrospective for his thirty years of painting (1964–1994). In 2001, the Sainte-Croix des Sables-d'Olonne [fr] museum, opens its doors to him for a major exhibition "Landscape or a certain regard". He regularly takes part in the Parisian Salons of which he is a member.,[16]

Works

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Peinture murale in Poiré-sur-Vie by Raphaël Toussaint (1990).
 
Regard sur l'An 2000 by Raphaël Toussaint (2000).
 
Bouquet au chat by Raphaël Toussaint (1976).
 
Les semailles à Chambretaud by Raphaël Toussaint (1983).

Awards

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Exhibitions

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Year Venue Location Description
1965 Biennale de la Loire-Atlantique La Baule Collective exhibition
1966 Galerie René Robin La Roche-sur-Yon Individual exhibition
1968 Salon Comparaisons [fr] Paris Collective exhibition
1968-1969 Galerie Jannel Paris Permanent exhibit
1968-1980 Galerie 93 et par le monde Paris Permanent exhibit
1971 Salon d'automne Paris Collective exhibition – Becomes a member of the Salon d'Automne
1972-1979 Galerie Saint Dominique Lyon Permanent exhibit
1974 Salle de l'Ardoise verte Beauvoir-sur-Mer Ten years of painting – Individual retrospective exhibition
1975 Salle municipale Levallois-Perret Nanterre Collective exhibition - World Fair of Naive Painting
1979-1986 Phillips gallery Palm Beach-Dallas-Houston Permanent exhibit
1980-1981 Galerie Simon Chaput Les Sables-d'Olonne et Parthenay Permanent exhibit
1981 Musée La Roche-sur-Yon Exhibition « Figures »
1982 Musée La Roche-sur-Yon Individual exhibition - « Chemins - 50 years of painting and homage to the Salon yonnais »
1982 Grand Palais Paris Salon of Independent Artists "The genius of the naive"
1982 Phillips gallery Palm Beach "Two masters of primitive school"
1983 Nationale des beaux-arts Paris Exhibition and becomes a member
1983 Centre Neptune Nantes Exhibition "Air and Space"
1983-1985 Galerie « Arts Lésigny » Lésigny Permanent exhibit
1984 Galerie « Arts Lésigny » Lésigny Christmas Salon (guest of honor)
1984 Musée des Beaux-Arts [fr] La Rochelle Seventh Fine Arts Fair (guest of honor)
1984-1986 Salon International d'Art naïf (S.I.A.N) Paris Collective exhibition (see) Grand Palais
1985 Galerie « Café de la paix » Paris International pictorial meetings, "A moment of peace"
1986-1991 Galerie 93 Paris Permanent exhibit
1988 Salle de la Martelle Le Poiré-sur-Vie 1st painting salon, (Raphaël Toussaint and friends)
1989 Galerie le Vieux château Angers Salon d'Automne - Collective exhibition
1990 Salle de la mairie Cholet Collective exhibition - "30 contemporary painters"
1990 Peinture murale Le Poiré-sur-Vie The mayor Léon Darnis commissions a 150 square metres (1,600 sq ft) mural painting to complete in the heart of the city
1991-1994 Galerie cannoise Cannes Individual exhibition
1992 Nolan-Rankin gallery Houston Collective exhibition
1992 Musée Noirmoutier Jacques Oudin, senator of the Vendée, commissioned a painting for the museum
1992 Trésor public La Roche-sur-Yon Exhibition at the General Treasury
1992 Crédit Mutuel La Roche-sur-Yon Exhibition on lithography
1993-1994 Galerie Colette Dubois Paris Collective exhibition
1993 Mairie du 9eme arr. Paris Third Biennial “Arts without time-Dreamlands” guest of honor
1994 Hôtel du dépt La Roche-sur-Yon "30 years of painting across the Vendée" Individual exhibition
1997-1998 Galerie du Mas d'Artigny Saint-Paul-de-Vence Individual exhibition
1999 Carrousel du Louvre Paris Exhibition of his painting "Hommage au Vendée Globe" at the Fine Arts salon
1999 Salon d'automne Paris Collective exhibition - Obtains the “Arts-Sciences-Lettres” vermeil medal.
1999-2000 Galerie du Dauphin Honfleur-Megève-Courchevel Collective exhibition
2000 Salon Comparaisons [fr] Paris Collective exhibition
2000 Salon d'automne Paris Collective exhibition - Receives the silver cross of "French Merit and Dedication"
2000 Salon d'automne Paris Collective exhibition - Receives the medal of the city of Paris.
2001 Musée de l'Abbaye Saint-Croix Les Sables-d'Olonne Individual exhibition 31 March – 17 June "Landscapes, a certain look"
2001 Centre culturel Challans Arts week-end on the theme: lithography - guest of honour
2001 Musée de la poste Paris Exhibition: The most beautiful illustrated envelopes from 1750 to the present day
2001 Carrousel du Louvre Paris Exhibition Salon de la Nationale des Beaux Arts
2004 Galerie d'Art Élysée Paris Collective exhibition
2005 Théâtre Millandry Luçon Individual exhibition – Discover lithography
2006-2007 Galerie Villa Bellartéa BiarritzAnglet Individual exhibition
2006 Salon Comparaisons [fr] Grand Palais Paris Collective exhibition
2007 Galerie Brie-Comte-Robert “Christmas colours” exhibition - Guest of honour
2008 Conseil général de la Vendée [fr] La Roche-sur-Yon Collective exhibition "The Vendeans and the sea, human adventures"
2009 Galerie du Sénéchal Les Lucs-sur-Boulogne Gallery opening - Guest of honour
2010 Carrousel du Louvre Paris Collective exhibition in the Salon des Beaux Arts from December 16 to 19 under the high patronage of the President of the Republic Nicolas Sarkozy. Raphaël Toussaint is awarded the Germain David-Nillet prize for his painting Hiver sur un domaine Vendéen.[18]
2010 Lexus Gallery La Roche-sur-Yon Lexus Gallery presents in December, the exhibition of Raphaël Toussaint "Féerie de Noël" with his painting Vouvant - La Tour Mélusine - La valse des patineurs (The skaters' waltz).[19]
2010 Librairie Siloë [fr] La Roche-sur-Yon Presentation during the month of May of the painting by Raphaël Toussaint, Beatification of Pope John Paul II (Lourdes. La Grotte de Massabielle), H.S.B. 27 centimetres (11 in) x 35 centimetres (14 in)
2015 Hôtel du département La Roche-sur-Yon Exhibition at the Departmental Council of the Vendée - Golden Jubilee: 50 Years of Painting - Hôtel du Département from 4 May to 3 July 2015 – La Roche-sur-Yon

Written works

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  • Chemins-50 ans de peinture en Vendée (in French) (Imprimerie graphique de l'Ouest ed.). Le Poiré-sur-Vie: Dominique Giles. 1982. pp. 12, 77. Hommage to the Salon Yonnais - Municipal museum of La Roche-sur-Yon
  • Raphaël Toussaint (August 1990). Les très riches heures de Raphaël Toussaint. Menthon-Saint-Bernard: éditions Les Sillons du Temps. ISBN 2-907077-06-6. Book of art.
  • Raphaël Toussaint (October 1994). 30 ans de peinture. éditions Cénomane. On the occasion of a retrospective exhibition at the Conseil général de la Vendée
  • Raphaël Toussaint (March 2001). Catalogue de l'exposition au Musée Sainte Croix les Sables d'Olonne.
  • Raphaël Toussaint (2001). Paysages ou un certain regard : Raphaël Toussaint (in French). Les Sables-d'Olonne: éditions Offset Cinq. ISBN 2-908752-10-7. Paysages ou un certain regard.
  • Raphaël Toussaint (2001). Quatre saisons en Vendée (in French). éditions Offset cinq. ISBN 2-908752-08-5. Illustrated agenda
  • Raphaël Toussaint (November 2002). Châteaux et Hauts Lieux de Vendée. éditions Offset Cinq. ISBN 2-908752-33-6.
  • Raphaël Toussaint; Antoine Richard (October 2000). Musique sur douze toiles de Raphaël Toussaint (in French). éditions Souffle et poésie. Poems

References

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  1. ^ "Animation d'introduction" (in French). Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  2. ^ Illégem's, Bertrand (December 1979). "Raphaël Toussaint, le soleil en décembre" [Raphaël Toussaint, the sun in December]. Presse-Océan, édition Vendée (in French). p. 4.
  3. ^ Louboutin, Hervé (November 1994). "La ronde vendéenne". Vendée Matin/Presse-Océan. p. 7.
  4. ^ Raphaël Toussaint 1990, pp. 34–35
  5. ^ Daniel, Alain (September 1984). "Raphaël Toussaint- la perfection dans l'art naïf". Ouest-France, édition Vendée (in French). p. 3.
  6. ^ Poinsignon, Annie (July 1986). "Raphaël Toussaint, peintre naïf et heureux de l'être". Ouest-France, édition Vendée (in French). p. 8.
  7. ^ Cortella, P.-M. (7 December 1966). "Raphaël Toussaint - Un naïf à la galerie Robin". Ouest-France, édition Vendée (in French). p. 2.
  8. ^ Raphaël Toussaint 1990, p. 13
  9. ^ Les têtes des Pays de la Loire [The heads of the Pays de La Loire] (in French), 2004, p. 510
  10. ^ Nationale des Beaux Arts - Grand Palais Paris (16 June 1983). "Déclarations de vols" [Declaration of theft]. Gazette de l'Hôtel Drouot (in French). No. 2601.
  11. ^ Raphaël Toussaint 1990
  12. ^ Raphaël Toussaint 1990, pp. 33–45
  13. ^ Raphaël Toussaint 1990, p. 35
  14. ^ Daniel, Alain (23 May 1985). "Comment la Vendée fait la conquête de l'Amérique" [How the Vendée is conquering America]. Ouest-France, édition Vendée (in French). p. 4.
  15. ^ Hutin, François-Régis (25 May 1989). "Un chantre vendéen de l'Art naïf expose à paris". Ouest-France, édition Vendée (in French). p. 5.
  16. ^ Moinard, Laurence (3 April 2001). "Mer et paysages à Sainte Croix". Ouest-France, édition Vendée. p. 5.
  17. ^ a b Toussaint, Raphaël. "Événements" (in French). raphael-toussaint.com. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
  18. ^ a b Raphaël Toussaint (18 December 2010). "Salon de la Nationale des Beaux-Arts, Carrousel du Louvre, Paris". raphael-toussaint.fr.
  19. ^ Raphaël Toussaint (24 December 2010). "Lexus Gallery, la Roche sur Yon". raphael-toussaint.fr.

Bibliography

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  • Dictionnaire Benezit (8 February 1999). Dictionnaire critique et documentaire des peintres, sculpteurs, dessinateurs et graveurs de tous les temps et de tous (in French). Vol. 13. éditions Gründ. p. 760. ISBN 978-2-7000-3010-5.
  • Gavelle, Madeleine (1 January 1977). Les peintres naïfs-Les illuminés de l'instinct (in French). Paris: éditions Fillipachi. p. 68. ISBN 2-85018-086-6. Texte and photo of tableau Le Bouquet au chat by Raphaël Toussaint.
  • Cluzel, Anne; Mory, Frédérique (2004). Vendée secrète (in French). Nantes: éditions Siloé-Kerdoré. p. 209. ISBN 2-84231-276-7. The face of a landscaper from the Vendée through his works Les mariés, La route du bonheur and Virginie ou l'enfant à la marguerite by Raphaël Toussaint.
  • Collectif (July 1991). "Revue de l'Art figuratif contemporain". Art Actualité Magazine. pp. 46–48. ISSN 1146-1276. From the art of the miniature painting to the art of the monumental as seen through the works Les mariés du Poiré-sur-Vie, La peinture murale du Poiré-sur-Vie and L'église de Saint Etienne du Brioullet by Raphaël Toussaint.
  • Collectif (June 1991). "Revue des Arts". Actualités des Arts. No. 5. pp. 64–65. ISSN 1157-4712. Texts and photos of the works Maison de Maître et le vieux Four à chaux and Le puy du Fou sous la neige by Raphaël Toussaint.
  • Collection des Arts (2000). Art galerie (in French and Japanese). Translated by Yukitoshi Yakamoto. édition japonaise. p. 184.Texts and photos of the works Le Mont des alouettes au champ de blé de Raphaël Toussaint.
  • Collection des Arts (2001). Art galerie (in French and Japanese). Translated by Yukitoshi Yakamoto. édition japonaise. p. 176. ISBN 4900011371. Texts and photos of the work La Tour d'Arundel – Les Sables d'Olonne by Raphaël Toussaint.
  • Collection des Arts (2002). Art galerie (in French and Japanese). Translated by Yukitoshi Yakamoto. édition japonaise. p. 183. ISBN 490162301X. Texts and photos of the work Saint-Mars-des-Près sous la neige by Raphaël Toussaint.
  • Collection des Arts (2003). Art galerie (in French and Japanese). Translated by Yukitoshi Téramoto. édition japonaise. pp. 184–185. ISBN 4901623028. Texts and photos of the works Maison de Maître et le vieux Four à chaux and Le puy du Fou sous la neige by Raphaël Toussaint.
  • Barrer, Patrick-F; Bigot, Stéphanie; Lhotis, Agnès (1992). Quand l'Art du 20e était conçu par des inconnus : Histoire du salon d'automne de 1903 à nos jours (in French). Montreuil: éditions Arts et Images du monde. pp. 194–195 & 282. Text and photo of the work La vieille église de Pouzauges en Vendée by Raphaël Toussaint.
  • Dubois, Jacques (April 1995). Vingt grandes signatures contemporaines (in French). Paris: éditions du Chêne vert. pp. 134–136. Texts and photos of the works Vendanges au Château de la Preuille and Le Château du Puy du Fou sous la neige by Raphaël Toussaint.
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