Bernard Cathelin 1919 - 2005

Bernard Cathelin was born in Paris in 1919.

He was a student at the Ecoles des Arts Decoratifs de Paris (School of Decorative arts Paris) from 1945-1948. During this time he was also tutored at the studio of Maurice Brianchon who was one of the best known painters of his generation. Brianchon carried on the style of Bonnard and Vuillard giving intimacy to his still lifes and portraits.

Brianchon’s influence can be seen in the subjects chosen by Cathelin. The themes of flowers, women and landscapes are repeated throughout his oeuvre. Cathelin’s deep-rooted love for his country and especially for the Drôme, from where his mother came is reflected in his early landscapes. However, he also travelled extensively and his visits to Mexico, Peru, Brazil, India and Japan are echoed in his later landscapes and portraits.

Prior to 1957 Cathelin primarily worked with oil on canvas. After this time he started to explore the technique of lithography, which he found fascinating. Later in his life he became involved in the construction of large tapestries based on his works.

In 1958 he was awarded the Prix Blumenthal and in 1958 the Prix Othon Friesz. His works have been shown in numerous one-man exhibitions, notably at the David B Findlay Gallery, New York (1960) Galerie Marcel Guiot, Paris (1964) Yoshii Gallery, Japan (1978).

The Musée de Valence, France organised a major retrospective of his work in the summer of 1997. This exhibition beat all records of numbers of visitors to the museum and drew in locals and others from throughout the world. He continued to exhibit internationally until his death in April 2005.