Artist in Focus - Albert Marquet

Albert Marquet was a French painter born in 1875. At just fifteen, he went to Paris to study at the Ecole des Arts Décoratifs. Six years later he joined the studio of Gustave Moreau, where he developed a close friendship with Henri Matisse.

He became associated with the art movement Fauvism, characterised by his vibrant use of colour and expressive brushwork. He frequently exhibited at the Paris salons. He travelled extensively in his thirties, visiting European countries, Scandinavia and North Africa, meeting his wife Marcelle in Algeria.

Strongly influenced by the Impressionists, he focused on painting port villages, quaysides and coastal scenes. He especially enjoyed the effects of light on water, carefully depicting the warped reflections and dappled sunlight.