Biography
Bertrand Py was born in Belfort, France, in 1895. Soon moving to Paris, he began showing interest in art from a very early age, eventually leaving his education in classical studies to focus on painting full-time, joining the National School of Fine Arts, although only after lying about his age in order to secure a place in the school.
He claimed his inspirations included such significant artists as Vermeer, Rembrandt, Delacroix, Velasquez and Chardin, amongst others; his portfolio of work reflecting this broad range of influences, however, his resulting own style for much of the early-to-mid twentieth century can clearly be seen to have similarities to the Bloomsbury Group and the likes of Duncan Grant.
Bertrand Py’s paintings were exhibited from age twenty five at the Salon of French Artists, and subsequently being exhibited at the Armant Drouant Gallery, the Petit Palais, the Galerie Bernheim and the Simonson Gallery. Py died in Paris in 1973, aged 78.