Artist 101

1. Early Career

In 1900, after a year of military service, Raoul Dufy received a scholarship to attend the École nationale supérieure des Beaux Arts in Paris, one of the most influential art schools in France. At the beginning of the 20th century, Paris was considered the epicentre of artistic movements and innovation as artists began to move away from natural depictions of reality and colour. It was at this moment that the Fauvist style began to flourish in Paris—the use of vivid colours and expressionistic brushwork was a break from the more naturalistic palettes of the past.

The Société des Artistes Indépendants—founded in 1884 by leading artists including Georges Seurat and Paul Signac—provided an alternative to the previous, traditional styles in Paris and government sponsored salons. The society held annual exhibitions that became internationally recognised for changing attitudes and approaches to art. It was here, in 1905, that Dufy exhibited and met French painters Matisse and Derain, who would become influential contemporaries in Fauvism.

Stay updated with our auctions. Sign up to receive your weekly newsletter of global auctions, stories and more from Bonhams and our sister companies. Subscribe now

2. Influence & Inspiration

Keen to depict real life in and around the city, painting en plein air became a popular subject matter for many leading landscape painters, such as Monet and Pissarro. Inspired by their work, Dufy began to paint social events in this style. His favourite subject matters included sailing boats, horse races, fashionable crowds promenading along the Riviera, concerts and orchestras.

When Dufy visited the Salon des Indépendents in 1905, he encountered Matisse’s Luxe, Calme et Volupté—a seminal Fauvist work for its use of dynamic brushwork and vivid colours. The style of brush work and strident colours of the Fauves were described by critic Louis Vauxcelles as ‘wild beasts’ due to its contrast from more naturalistic, traditional palettes of the past. While Fauvism as a movement was short lived, its colourful and decorative style would be used by Dufy throughout his career and become a feature of his most identifiable works.

3. Artworks & Acclaim

Born on the northern coast of France in the city of Le Havre, Dufy was fascinated by the coast from a young age. In 1911, he began to frequent the French Riviera after marrying Eugénie-Emilienne Brisson, who came from Nice. During his visits to the South, he started painting scenes of the diverse landscape. These included views of the city of Vence, the Baie des Anges and Old Nice. Some of his best works of the French Riviera were created between 1926-29, when he often painted from his apartment window. Dufy’s style from this period has been recognised for its similarities to Matisse.

Observing the sea as a backdrop for lively spectacles, Dufy was drawn to the colour blue. In an interview with Pierre Courthion, Dufy explained:

From the 1920s, Dufy began to work with a variety of materials that included ceramics, tapestries and large scale architectural decorations.

In 1937, he was commissioned to paint large frescoes for the 1937 International Exposition in Paris. Painting onto a slightly curved wall of the entrance to the Pavilion of Light and Electricity, the work covers 600 metres squared from right to left and explores two principal themes: the history of electricity and its applications - from the first observations to its most modern technical applications.

In 1952, he was commissioned to create a work for the 26th Venice Biennale, which subsequently won him the International Grand Prix for painting and was followed by his first retrospective at the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire, Geneva.

4. On the Market

Dufy is consistently a popular artist at auction, loved by collectors for his brilliant colours and Fauve influences. His depiction of the regatta, which he first painted in 1907 and return to throughout his career, are among his most popular subjects. In October 2020, Le retour des régates achieved £287,562.50 including premium at Bonhams New Bond Street in London. At over a metre long, the painting is one of Dufy’s largest regatta scenes ever to appear at auction.

On 22 June 2023, Dufy’s La plage de Sainte-Adresse from the Collection of Alain Delon, French film star and legend, was offered at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr in Paris. A discerning and passionate collector since his twenties, Delon has stated that “there are two things I regard as my legacy; my acting career and my art collection. I am so proud of them both.”

Beyond the market, works by Dufy can be found in major public collections, from the Musée d'Arte Moderne de la Ville in Paris and the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne.

Own a similar Raoul Dufy painting? Submit your artwork or collection online for a free auction estimate

5. Collecting & Care

Works by Dufy are readily available on the market and vary in price. Works on paper often start at £600 - £800, and are recommended by our specialists as a great place to start a collection. On the other hand, watercolours and gouache attract much higher prices as they showcase his distinctive bright palette.

When it comes to the condition and care of works by 20th century painters likes Dufy, our specialists advise seeing the work in person, or requesting a condition report if you are unable to view it physically. For a work on canvas of this age, you might expect to see some hairline cracks to the impasto, termed craquelure, and the canvas to be relined to provide extra stability, but it is also important to check that an oil painting has been examined by a specialist under UV light to confirm if any later additions or repairs have been made by a restorer.