Peter de Francia: A Portrait of the Socialist-Expressionist Painter and His Complex Legacy
Peter de Francia (1921-2012) was a painter and draughtsman known for his socialist-expressionist style, associated with the Ecole de Paris and Modernist artists such as Fernand Léger. Influenced by figures like Renato Guttuso and Max Beckmann, his political convictions were evident in his work. In the early 1980s, while teaching at the Royal College of Art, he criticized prominent artists like David Hockney. His notable piece, The Bombing of Sakiet (1959), which critiques French actions during the Algerian war, is part of the Tate Gallery's collection. Residing in south London amidst a disorganized archive, he was represented by James Hyman Gallery, and a retrospective took place at Camden Arts Centre in 1983. His later works featured narrative charcoal drawings that illustrated his intricate personality and ideological stance.
Key facts
- Peter de Francia was a socialist-expressionist figurative painter and draughtsman (1921-2012).
- He taught at the Royal College of Art in London in the early 1980s.
- His major painting 'The Bombing of Sakiet' (1959) critiques French actions in the Algerian war.
- The Tate Gallery acquired a group of his works and hung a dedicated room.
- He had a retrospective at Camden Arts Centre in London in 1983.
- Later in life, he was represented by James Hyman Gallery.
- He authored a major book on Fernand Léger published by Yale University Press.
- He maintained a house in rural France and a studio in south London behind Elephant and Castle.
Entities
Artists
- Peter de Francia
- Fernand Léger
- Max Beckmann
- Renato Guttuso
- Jean Hélion
- Roberto Matta
- Francis Picabia
- André Derain
- David Hockney
- R.B. Kitaj
- Bridget Riley
- Tim Hyman
- Philip Guston
- Julian Schnabel
- Reinaldo Arenas
- André Fougeron
- Ossip Zadkine
- Henri Laurens
- Jean Ipoustéguy
- Robert Desnos
Institutions
- Royal College of Art
- Yale University Press
- Goldsmiths College
- Tate Gallery
- Camden Arts Centre
- Wimbledon School of Art
- James Hyman Gallery
- Central School of Art
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- Tunisian Embassy in London
- Pélican
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Paris
- France
- New York
- United States
- Cuba
- Dijon
- Algeria
- Tunisia
- Norwich
- Elephant and Castle
- St Martin's Lane