The Formative Years of Gaston Balande
Born in Madrid, Spain, Gaston Balande began his artistic journey by copying prints and chromolithographs found at market stalls in Saujon. Although his mother intended for him to become a pastry chef to support the family restaurant, he pursued a different path, working first as an apprentice painter for a carriage maker and later as a house painter. His interest in fine art was solidified while working for a picture restorer, where he learned the fundamentals of easel painting through accompanying his employer on excursions to paint from nature.
His formal training was shaped by several key figures and institutions. After receiving a recommendation from Henri-Joseph Harpignies, Balande was admitted to the École Nationale des Arts Décoratifs, where he attended evening courses while working during the day. His military service in Bordeaux and La Rochelle brought him into contact with the painter Furcy de Lavaux, who encouraged his drawing studies. Later, in Paris, he frequented the ateliers of Jean-Paul Laurens and Rupert Bunny, the latter of whom influenced his ability to work on an architectural scale.
Artistic Evolution and Travels
Balande's career was marked by significant travels and diverse subject matter. He was part of the School of Étaples, painting the daily life of fishing communities, and later received a state travel grant to visit Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain. His travels continued through Italy, including Genoa, Pisa, Florence, Rome, and Naples. In the 1920s, he explored Morocco and spent time in the Eure region, where he painted the landscapes of the Seine. His later years included travels to Sicily and Venice, as well as a period teaching at the American School at the Château de Fontainebleau.
His body of work includes various notable subjects and commissions:
