Amedee-Julien Marcel-Clement, French (1873 - ?)

Amedee Julien Marcel-Clement was born in Paris on 15th September, 1873. He painted various subjects including landscapes, seascapes, wildlife and Parisian scenes. In 1903 he made his debut at the Salon de la Nationale des Beaux-Arts and he continued to exhibit there and at the Salon des Independents for many years. Between 1913 and 1914 he also exhibited in England at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool and at the Royal Scottish Academy.

Although Marcel-Clement resided in Paris for virtually all his life, he only painted a relatively small number of views of his native city. The majority of his works are shipping subjects off the French coast and it is for these works that he is best known. His coastal views capture the dramatic atmosphere of light emanating from the sky and bouncing off the sea. His palette is natural and he uses varied greys and blues interspersed with whites and creams to evoke the silvery quality of both sky and sea. Using simplified forms and abstracted surfaces the sails of the boats are evoked with astonishing realism. The viewer is drawn into the scene as if he were actually there.

Exhibited: Salon Nationale des Beaux-Arts, Salon des Independents

Museums: Musee du Petit-Palais, Paris, Nimes, Strasbourg, Tokyo

Literature: Gerald Shurr '1820 - 1920 - Les Petits Maitres de la Peinture Valeur de Demain'