French painter Andre Brasilier was born in Saumur, France in the year 1929 to artist parents At the young age of 10, Brasilier too showed an inclination for art He later enrolled to study at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris and went on to be awarded the Prix Blumenthal in 1952 In 1953, he also received the Premier Grand Prix de Rome for his work From 1954 to 1957, he lived in the Villa Medicis, Rome following which he won other prestigious awards including Prix Charles-Morellet in 1961 and Prix de Villeneuve-sur-Lot in the following year

Brasilier’s works heavily feature the sea, horses, women and serene landscapes painted in a combination of expressionism and abstraction His wife, Chantal, also serves as a recurring muse in his paintings She is often seen as the central subject of his paintings, poised next to vibrant flower arrangements The artist considers Paul Gauguin as his spiritual father and is also heavily influenced by music His style and technique is also informed by Japanese prints, depicting real-life subjects in dreamlike worlds that celebrate the harmony of man and nature

Growing up in a Manor House in the country, Brasilier often witnessed horses ploughing the fields and thus his fascination with the animals began Inspired by the movement of horses, their spiritual symbolism, the artist made them a repeating motif throughout his ongoing career Often depicted galloping through thick woods, meadows and seascapes, these horses are representative of strength and beauty for Brasilier His lyrical figurative works are an eye-catching blend of a vibrant colour palette and flowing brushstrokes that depict the artist’s zest for life and nature

He has exhibited his work around the world including the United States, France, Rome, Japan and Germany Among his many group exhibitions, the notable ones include exhibitions at the Galerie Charpentier from 1954 to 1957, Paris Biennale in 1961 and 1963; and Salon Comparaisons fro