Jean-Pierre Cassigneul
b.1935 | French

Ciel incertain
(Uncertain Sky)

Signed “Cassigneul” (lower left)
Oil on canvas

This exquisite painting by Jean-Pierre Cassigneul, titled Ciel incertain, or Uncertain Sky beautifully portrays a sophisticated woman gazing out at the sea, her attention captured by the distant sailboats. The striking floral sunhat she wears adds an air of refinement, drawing the viewer's eye with its intricate details. Cassigneul, celebrated for his graceful portraits, skillfully combines an atmosphere of serenity with vibrant bursts of color. His background in French fashion is evident in the meticulous attention given to both the woman's delicately patterned dress and her voluminous hat, making this canvas a true testament to his artistry.

As one of the most celebrated living French artists, Jean-Pierre Cassigneul is distinguished by his remarkable ability to create works that harmonize a contemporary flair with classic elegance. His painting Ciel incertain perfectly exemplifies this, uniting two of his signature themes: the allure of a fashionable ingénue and the captivating beauty of the French Riviera. Cassigneul’s use of a vibrant palette and flattened spatial planes reflect the influence of the French Post-Impressionist group Les Nabis, which included renowned artists like Pierre Bonnard, Édouard Vuillard and Maurice Denis. Additionally, the expressionist painter Kees van Dongen significantly impacted Cassigneul’s development, as seen in his portraits that echo van Dongen’s elongated and sharply defined female figures.

Born in Paris in 1935, Jean-Pierre Cassigneul was deeply influenced by his grandfather, the founder of the pioneering French fashion house Jean Dessès. Immersed in the glamorous world of Parisian fashion from a young age, Cassigneul's early experiences observing models, dressmakers and runway shows left a lasting impact on his artistic vision. His passion for art emerged early, and by the age of 12, he had already painted his first landscape in Deauville. Cassigneul went on to study at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts, and at just 17, he held his first solo exhibition. Since then, his work has been widely exhibited across the globe, with particularly strong followings in Western Europe, the United States and Japan.

Accompanied by its certificate of authenticity.

Dated 1987

Canvas: 35 1/2” high x 25 1/2” wide (90.17 x 64.77 cm)
Frame: 47 1/2” high x 37” wide x 2 3/4" deep. (120.65 x 93.98 x 6.99 cm)