VITALIS in the Finister port of Moguériec in 1977
The Marines: a theme that VITALIS loved
VITALIS loved the sea. Living close to the sea was undoubtedly a major factor in his choice to settle in Brittany, in Plestin-les-Grèves. He was also an excellent sea angler, especially for the noble sea bass. This quality also served him well during the lean season: VITALIS sometimes sold his fish to the people of Plestin when he was in need.
VITALIS was particularly fond of the small Finisterian port of Moguériec, with its trawlers moored at the quay, and framed by cliffs on the horizon – which VITALIS would often use in his marine horizons.
VITALIS painted seascapes in all his styles, but particularly in his pointillist style which allowed him to express deep ultramarine blues and skies streaked with large geometric bands of yellow, pink and blue, as in the example below (“Vue du pays de Plestin” – 1967-2).
“…while the sky and the sea, as if seen through a broken mirror, are broken down into a multitude of diaphanous facets” – extrait du livre “Peintres des côtes de Bretagne n°2” Léo Kerlo – Jacqueline Duroc –
First Marines: Sailboat races
The earliest known VITALIS paintings are of sport or leisure sailing ships, all sails out, full of wind. Are they souvenirs of the United States? The “three sailboats” of 1930 evoke the famous “J Class” of the America’s Cup, while the backdrop of the “Marine” (date not known) does not recall a French landscape. In 1947, the “sailboats” are no longer sporting but massive fishing boats.
Quatre voiliers – hst – vers 1930
Marine – hst – NC
Trois voiliers – hst – vers 1930
Voiliers – ? – 1947
… From 1957, VITALIS settled permanently in Brittany. He then began to paint impressionist seascapes representing the shores of Plestin-les-Grèves (Saint-Efflam most often). It is the steep coasts and their rocks that VITALIS likes to represent, without forgetting the crashing of the waves on these rocks…
Plage des curés – hsp – 1947
La pointe de l’Armorique à Plestin – hsp – vers 1947
Paysage marin – hsp – 1957
La plage – hst – vers 1939
L’écume des mers sur les rochers dans une anse – hst – 1957
Paysage méditerranéen (?) – hst – 1959
Rocher rouge – ? -1958
Saint-Efflam – ? – NC
… In the early 1960s, VITALIS explored a more cubist universe, fragmented by facets of colour. A constant: the presence of boats in his seascapes, and their reflections …
Lever de soleil sur le port – hst – 1954
Les barques devant le phare – hst – NC
Au port – hsp – 1961
Village, Boats at dock – hst – 1963
Sans titre – hst – NC
Sans titre – hst – 1959
Côte d’azur (?) ou Le port – hst – 1960
Le port de Toul-an-Héry – hst – 1961
Le port (Toul-an-Héry) – hst – 1969
… At the end of the 1960s, VITALIS definitively adopted the pointillist style. This was his favourite style for painting seascapes. The blues are particularly deep (seascapes of 1974 and 1975). Trawlers are often represented, a jetty plunging into the water, a distant horizon delimited by the coastline: the small fishing port of Moguériec (29) particularly inspired VITALIS for these pointillist seascapes. The two monumental paintings below (exhibited on the walls of the town hall of Plestin-les-Grèves) are emblematic examples of this style of pointillist seascape…
Vue du pays de Plestin – hst – 1967
Église et manoirs de Plestin – hst – 1967
Les barques devant le village de pêcheurs – hst – 1969
Barques sur la grève – hst – 1969
La plage – hst – 1973
La presqu’île – hsp – 1974
Marine – hst – 1975
Esquisse Moguériec – hst – 1975
Ouessant – hst – 1975
Moguériec – hst – 1976
La plage de Pors-Mellec – hst – 1976
Soleil couchant – hst – 1978
Saint-Efflam en l’an 2000 – hst – 1981
Étude “Saint-Efflam en l’an 2000” – hsp – 1976
Trois bateaux dans la brume – hst – 1982
Paysage de Normandie – hst – 1984
Sans titre – hst – 1985
Marine Moguériec – hst – NC
Marine – hst – 1967
Village by the sea – hst – 1972
Baie avec petits bateaux – hst – 1974
Anse maritime – hst – 1975
Le bateau vert (Locquémeau) – hst – 1975
Le port de Toul-an-Héry – hst – 1975
Moguériec – hst – 1976
Les rochers – hst – 1976
Marine pommier – hst – 1976
Locquirec – hst – 1976
Concarneau – hst – 1978
Hommage à Alain – hst – 1982
Marine – hst – 1980
Shrimp boats by the bay – hst – 1983
Port de Concarneau – hst – 1984
Marine – hst – 1987
Mer interdite – hst – 1984
