BAES Firmin
THE WHITE TURTLEDOVE
Pastel on ppaer: 39 x 30,5 cm / 15.3 x 12 in
Signed, dated '1927' and dedicated 'à Luce et à Jean' lower right; signed and titled 'Le pigeon blanc' on the reverse
Painter of portraits, figures, landscapes, genre scenes and still lifes with flowers.
Firmin Baes was the son of the decorator Henri Baes. He was a pupil of his father and of Léon Frédéric at the Brussels Fine Arts Academy and at the free Academy “La Patte de Dindon” (1894-1900). He made his debut around 1900 as a painter of figures and landscapes. He worked in Luxembourg and Zeeland and at the Belgian coast, where he had a preference for Knokke. His early works show the influence of Léon Frédéric, but he soon moved to a clearer and velvety line.
He became known as a painter of realistic figures and made delicate use of light and shadow.
Baes managed to infuse his paintings with a timeless and fashion-free soul by emphasizing the concentration and inner life of his characters. He was a master of the pastel technique and took part in several exhibitions.
Period:
Saint-Josse-ten-Noode (Brussels) 1874 - Brussels 1943
Belgian School
Exhibitions:
Antwerp - Brussels - Charleroi - Ixelles - Ostend - Ypres
Literature:
P. & V. Berko, "Dictionary of Flower Painters; Belgian and Dutch Artists born between 1750 and 1880", Knokke 1995, p. 110.
P. & V. Berko, "Dictionary of Belgian painters born between 1750 & 1875", Knokke 1981, p. 25.
G. Naegels-Delfosse, "Firmin Baes", Brussels 1987.
