Bord De Mer by Charles Garabed Atamian
Bord De Mer by Charles Garabed Atamian
Atamian’s work has always been very popular and in high demand. He captures not only the luminosity of wet, sun-drenched sand, but also the charm of children playing.
DIMENSIONS: (unframed) 15.0 x 21.8 ins/ 38.1 x 55.4 cm
SIGNATURE: Signed lower left
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas
Price: £39,500
Description
Charles Garabed Atamian was an Armenian painter and illustrator of landscape and marine subjects. The majority of Atamian’s works are oil paintings and he often depicted beach scenes, especially children playing in the sand.
Atamian was born in Constantinople, but predominantly worked and exhibited in Paris. He exhibited at La Nationale from 1913 – 42, at the Independent Gallery from 1938 – 45, and he was made an Associate of La Nationale in 1927.
Provenance
Private Collection, United Kingdom
Biography
Atamian was born in Constantinople, but predominantly worked and exhibited in Paris. He exhibited at La Nationale from 1913 – 42, at the Independent Gallery from 1938-45, and he was made an Associate of La Nationale in 1927. His work has always been very popular and in high demand. He captures not only the luminosity of wet, sun-drenched sand, but also the charm of children playing in the 1920s and 1930s. Born into the wealthy family of Mgrdich Atamian, a goldsmith and musician, and Mary Afker (Constantinople, Ottoman Empire). He was the second of five children and completed his early education at the Mkhitaryan Armenian School in Pera, Istanbul.
He then attended the local French school Lycée de Saint-Benoit. He continued his education at the Murad Rafaelian Armenian College of Venice, where he studied along with Edgar Chahine. Upon returning to Istanbul Atamian opened his first exhibition, whis was a big success and he was invited to work at the newly open Yildiz Porcelain Factory of the Ottoman Court (from 1894 to 1896). He was appointed as the factory’s chief designer. A number of Atamian’s porcelain plates bearing his signature “Atam” are now exhibited at the Topkapi Palace (the main palace of the Ottoman Empire). Plates which he created include portraits of the sultans Mahmud II, Selim and Abdul Mejid.
The Hamidian massacres of Armenians made it impossible to gain his realisation as a painter in Constantinople. He sought refuge in Paris in 1897 and predominantly worked and exhibited there. In Paris his name Garabed turned into Charles. Here Atamian exhibited at La Nationale from 1913 – 1942, at the Independent Gallery from 1938 – 1945, and he was made an Associate of La Nationale in 1927. The first oil painting by Charles Atamian was exhibited at Salon d’Automne in 1903. From that year and onwards, he participated in various exhibitions with overwhelming success. In 1923 Atamian spent the summer in Saint-Gilles-sur-Vie in Vendée (France). It became a habit of his and he returned regularly until 1939. Many of his famous landscapes and marine artworks were developed precisely at this summer residence. Atamian is the painter of open air blinks.
Few artists have such a feel of light as he has, it’s his privilege, the result of spontaneity and mastery… His soul is joyful and straightforward, emotional in front of the whole intoxication of light and colour. His line celebrates light and truth and feels us with a joy for life…