Signed lower right, ‘Di Gesu’ for Victor Di Gesu (American, 1914-1988) and created circa 1955.

Winner of the Prix Othon Friesz, Victor di Gesu first attended the Los Angeles Art Center and the Chouinard Art School before moving to Paris where he studied with Andre L’Hote and Yves Brayer at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière. While in Paris, Di Gesu exhibited extensively, including at the Louvre, the Exposition des Artistes Étrangères, the Grand Palais of the Salon d’Automne and the Salon des Arts Décoratifs among other Parisian Salons. He subsequently attended Barcelona’s Escuela de Bellas Artes before furthering his studies in Rome at the Studio Hinna. Returning to California, Di Gesu worked beside several notable American Modernists including F. Tolles Chamberlain and Maynard Jepson.

Already a gifted colorist, Di Gesu’s classical training combined with his scientific research into color theory, allowed him to create vivid yet harmonious works which, while reminiscent of Matisse and Gauguin, revealed a verve and spontaneity that remained uniquely his own. A prolific artist, Victor Di Gesu was the recipient of numerous medals and juried awards, both in the United States and in France. After his return to California, he continued to exhibit widely and with success, including at the San Francisco Museum of Art, Monterey Peninsula Museum of Art, the Carmel Art Association and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Victor Di Gesu (American, 1914-1988) circa 1955 and stamped, verso, with Victor di Gesu estate stamp.

An elegant figural drawing showing a woman seated, resting her head on her arms crossed over a chairback.

Winner of the Prix Othon Friesz, Victor di Gesu first attended the Los Angeles Art Center and the Chouinard Art School before moving to Paris where he studied with Andre L’Hote and Yves Brayer at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière. While in Paris, Di Gesu exhibited extensively, including at the Louvre, the Exposition des Artistes Étrangères, the Grand Palais of the Salon d’Automne and the Salon des Arts Décoratifs among other Parisian Salons. He subsequently attended Barcelona’s Escuela de Bellas Artes before furthering his studies in Rome at the Studio Hinna. Returning to California, Di Gesu worked beside several notable American Modernists including F. Tolles Chamberlain and Maynard Jepson.

Already a gifted colorist, Di Gesu’s classical training combined with his scientific research into color theory, allowed him to create vivid yet harmonious works which, while reminiscent of Matisse and Gauguin, revealed a verve and spontaneity that remained uniquely his own. A prolific artist, Victor Di Gesu was the recipient of numerous medals and juried awards, both in the United States and in France. After his return to California, he continued to exhibit widely and with success, including at the San Francisco Museum of Art, Monterey Peninsula Museum of Art, the Carmel Art Association and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Painted by Victor Di Gesu (American, 1914-1988) circa 1955 and stamped, verso, with Victor di Gesu estate stamp.

A bold, expressionist drawing showing a young woman seated in a chair with her hands clasped.

Winner of the Prix Othon Friesz, Victor di Gesu first attended the Los Angeles Art Center and the Chouinard Art School before moving to Paris where he studied with Andre L’Hote and Yves Brayer at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière. While in Paris, Di Gesu exhibited extensively, including at the Louvre, the Exposition des Artistes Étrangères, the Grand Palais of the Salon d’Automne and the Salon des Arts Décoratifs among other Parisian Salons. He subsequently attended Barcelona’s Escuela de Bellas Artes before furthering his studies in Rome at the Studio Hinna. Returning to California, Di Gesu worked beside several notable American Modernists including F. Tolles Chamberlain and Maynard Jepson.

Already a gifted colorist, Di Gesu’s classical training combined with his scientific research into color theory, allowed him to create vivid yet harmonious works which, while reminiscent of Matisse and Gauguin, revealed a verve and spontaneity that remained uniquely his own. A prolific artist, Victor Di Gesu was the recipient of numerous medals and juried awards, both in the United States and in France. After his return to California, he continued to exhibit widely and with success, including at the San Francisco Museum of Art, Monterey Peninsula Museum of Art, the Carmel Art Association and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Harald Grote, American Artist, Graphite Drawing Nude “Picking Seashells”. Signed lower ring. Work on paper Size: 17 in. x 14 in.
Biography: Harald Grote started painting before beginning his academic and professional career. His training for architecture included drawing, painting, sculpture and motion picture production. He returned to painting when the practice of architecture increasingly employed computers as drawing tools. To continue practicing his artistic skills, he enrolled in various classes for drawing, painting and sculpture, among them Fleisher Memorial Institute, Woodmere Art Museum and others. Most weeks he joins drawing sessions with alumni of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. His work includes portrait, figure, landscape and still life in oil, watercolor and pastel.

Exhibitions: Work by Harald Grote has been shown, among others, at:
Fleisher Memorial Institute; The Philadelphia Sketch Club; Plastic Club of Philadelphia; Abington Art Center; Cheltenham Art Center; ACX- Artists Cultural Exchange; Greater Norristown Art League; Eastham Painters Guild, Eastham, MA; Brandywine Plein Air Exhibit; Winter tour, Wilmington DE; Manayunk-Roxborough Art Center, Philadelphia PA.