Pont Aven, Circa 2010

Jacques Coquillay  

Jacques Coquillay
Official painter of the Navy

Pastelist and Sculptor

Jacques Coquillay was born on June 3, 1935. He entered the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Tours in the sculpture department. In 1958, he obtained the National Diploma of Sculpture. He was a student at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris in the studio of Marcel Gimond. In 1960, he obtained the Higher Diploma of Plastic Art 30-09-2009 (with honors). Upon Gimond's death, he entered the studio of Hubert Yencesse and Raymond Corbin. In 1961, he was accepted into the Concours de Rome - Logiste.

At the Jury of the Prix de Rome, he met Jean Carton, Raymond Martin and Georges Hilbert with whom he became friends. He formed a group of Young Sculptors, helped by Belmondo, and held several group exhibitions. In 1972, he met Dunoyer de Segonzac who encouraged him and bought his first bronzes. In 1983, he was elected Vice-President of French Artists. Retrospective of Coquillay's work at the Salon d'Automne 1992. Jehan des Vignes-Rouges Prize, Academy of Versailles in 1993. Named Painter of the Navy in 1995.

Museums:

Modern Art of the City of Paris (Torso of a Young Girl)

Contemporary Art of Fontainebleau (Maternity)

Rapin Museum in Villeneuve-sur-Lot (Ondine)

Lambinet Museum in Versailles. Purchased by the City of Versailles

Achievements:

"Our Lady of the Oak" (Church of Viroflay), "Marianne" for the Marie de Viroflay as well as the "Bust of Hippolyte Maze", "Little Girl with Sheep" at the Town Hall of Tarverny, Monument of Remembrance at the Prefecture of Yvelines.

Monumental sculptures for a fountain in front of Angers station "Birth of Venus", as well as "Vagabondage" in Braissac.

"Marianne" for Marie des Essarts (in the guise of Catherine Deneuve), "The Love Apple" for the fountain in the Town Hall square in Marmande.

Monumental sculptures for the fountain of the CES of Rambouillet "The Wave" (1990), for the Priory Garden at Bourget-du-Lac "Vagabondage" (1991), for the City of Sèvres "The Shawl" (1992), for the patio of the Town Hall of Essarts "Youth" and in Mulhouse "The Elegant" (1993).

"The Swimmer" in Villepreux, "The Blue Hour" in Sarrebourg

"Coquillay has been interested in and practicing pastel since the 1970s. Light and serenity prevail in both his sculptures and his pastels. Promoted to Official Painter of the Navy since 1995, the artist abandons, in his graphic work, the human body for the landscape. Soft vollones and beaches with a clear horizon, open spaces are privileged here. Captured in the very particular clarity of the end of the day, this peaceful nature makes its fleeting pools of sunlight sing and unfolds its blurred skies. Using a tender palette, full of finesse, Coquillay composes delicious pastels with vibrant, warm and golden lights."