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Learn MoreComposition en trois parties by Raoul Dufy
- This exceptionally vibrant work is a rare oil by the great Raoul Dufy
- Its unique composition structures the work in three distinct parts
- Dufy's vibrant colors and fluid brushwork count him among the best of the modern masters
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- Get complete item description here
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1877-1953 | French
Composition en trois parties
(Composition in three parts)
Signed "Raoul Dufy" (center left)
Oil on panel
Often called the painter of joy, Raoul Dufy captured the vibrancy of modern France like no other artist. He is celebrated for his radiant color palette and lively sense of rhythm, and Dufy’s oils are exceptionally difficult to find. This beautiful Dufy oil on panel is even more extraordinary for its. . .
1877-1953 | French
Composition en trois parties
(Composition in three parts)
Signed "Raoul Dufy" (center left)
Oil on panel
Often called the painter of joy, Raoul Dufy captured the vibrancy of modern France like no other artist. He is celebrated for his radiant color palette and lively sense of rhythm, and Dufy’s oils are exceptionally difficult to find. This beautiful Dufy oil on panel is even more extraordinary for its unique composition—a single painting in three distinct parts.
Bursting with color, movement and light, this dazzling composition is quintessentially Dufy. Brilliant blues, sunny yellows and coral tones dance across the panel, animated by Dufy’s confident, fluid brushwork. The sensuous reclining figure at its center is framed by two contrasting scenes—a sparkling view of the Promenade des Anglais in Nice to the left and an intimate interior on the right. This exceptionally rare, three-part design creates an irresistible rhythm, drawing the viewer into its wonderfully whimsical world.
Painted circa 1930, Composition en trois parties perfectly embodies Dufy’s vibrant vision, which was inspired by his friend and mentor Henri Matisse, as well as Cézanne and Picasso. In 1952, Dufy received the Grand Prize for Painting at the Venice Biennale—an honor that affirmed his place among these great modern masters.
Born in Le Havre, Normandy, both Dufy and his brother Jean showed a talent for drawing at an early age. He would eventually enroll in the École d'Art in Le Havre, and later, the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Today, his works are held in major collections around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art, the Phillips Collection and the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris (home to the famed Room Dufy).
This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and is pictured in the artist's definitive catalogue raisonné.
Circa 1930
View the Dossier
Panel: 5 1/4" high x 12 3/4" wide (13.34 x 32.39 cm)
Frame: 13" high x 20 1/2" wide x 1 1/2" deep (33.02 x 52.07 x 3.81 cm)
Provenance:
Private collection of Mr. Thomas, circa 1970
Private collection, France
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
Literature:
Maurice Laffaille, Raoul Dufy Catalogue Raisonné de l'Oeuvre Peint, volume IV, Geneva, 1977, no. 1655, p. 196 (illustrated)

| Maker: | Dufy, Raoul |
| Period: | 1919-Present |
| Origin: | France |
| Type: | Paintings |
| Style: | Modernism |
| Depth: | 1.5 in. (3.81 cm) |
| Width: | 20.5 in. (52.07 cm) |
| Height: | 13.0 in. (33.02 cm) |
| Canvas Width: | 12.750 in. (32.39 cm) |
| Canvas Height: | 5.250 in. (13.34 cm) |
What's the difference between modern and contemporary art?
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