The Son of a Roofer Born in the city of Rouen, France, Jean Sorieul entered the world as the son of a slate roofer. This humble beginning provided a stark contrast to the lofty, often turbulent scenes he would later commit to canvas. His early years in Normandy likely instilled in him a keen eye for the textures of the physical world, a trait that would serve him well as he moved toward the formal training required of a professional pa…