Isabelle de Ganay
(b.1960)
Isabelle de Ganay was born in Rouen in 1960. There she discovered the same magic of the Normandy landscape that inspired the great names in Impressionism - Monet, Renoir and Sisely. Art and nature began to dominate her life. At the age of twelve, Isabelle was accepted at the famous Beaux-Arts in Rouen, an honour that is rarely bestowed on someone so young and is a clear indication of her talent.
In 1976, Isabelle met Albert Malet, the last Impressionist painter of the School of Rouen. Malet had been a student of Robert Antoine Pinchon and for the next 10 years he became Isabelle's mentor. Isabelle continued her formal education at the Academie Julian and the Ecole des Beaus-Arts in Paris, where she graduated first in her class. She returned to Rouen and began to exhibit throughout France. The critics praised her unique style and she was quickly recognised as a worthy successor to the Impressionists. Malet, who had always been aware of her gift, named Isabelle his successor. Upon his death in 1986, Isabelle assumed his position as Maitre de L'Ecole de Rouen.
Isabelle is a true disciple of "le plein air"; painting outside, in all weathers, to more fully experience the changes in the atmosphere, the vibrations of the air and the varying light in order to capture and translate the ephemeral moment onto canvas.
"She seizes the essential character of her theme, the harmony of lines and colours. Sometimes complementary and sometimes even wild; dazzling chromaticism, she communicates her passion of light and colour. Thus, by her very personal talent and authenticity of research, she is definitively part of the coterie of Impressionists." Benedicte Dufey
Isabelle has had numerous successful exhibitions throughout Europe. Her position as a member of the Artistes de Francais and the presence of her works in prestigious collections across France, China, England and the United States of America amongst others, is affirmation of her continually expanding reputation as one of the true classic Impressionist painters of our time.