Original Jean Raffy Le Persan (French. 1920-2008) Oil on Board "Reveries II" - Daydreams. Surrealist Oil on Board, in magnificent heavily carved gilt wood french frame. Signed lower left. In frame measures 12x17x2". Weight is 3 pds 10 oz. PROVENANCE: From the Private Paris, France and Charleston SC Collection of J. Marterer, author of Paris 201, the Winner of the Benjamin Franklin Awards - GOLD MEDAL (Travel) and Independent Publisher Awards - SILVER MEDAL (Travel). Jean Raffy was born in Paris in 1920, of Persian parents, and formed part of the group of painters at the Ecole de Paris. His art brings together the patience of a miniaturist with a youthful freshness in observing the everyday, particularly in the streets of Paris. Among his works are: Oil Slick; City of Carcassonne; Isle St-Louis; Lake with Ducks; Lovers in Montmartre; Mont St-Michel. His painting tends at times towards a sumptuous, dream-like state. He has painted many miniatures and illustrated the Koran.Early in his career, he participated in group exhibitions at the Paris Salons, including the Salon des Peintres Témoins de leur Temps, the Salon d'Automne, the Salon de la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, and exhibitions of young artists. He showed his work in private exhibitions, including the Maison de l'Iran, Paris; Cyprus gallery, Paris; New York, London, Rome, Amsterdam and Geneva; 1972, Dimpoulos gallery, Paris; 1973, Rome gallery, Paris; 1974, Jean-Francois Apesteguy gallery, Deauville; and in Bièvres, at the home of the publisher Pierre de Tartas. He was awarded the Prix de la Critique in 1958 in Paris, and the prize from the Menton Biennale in 1966. His work is in the permanent collection at the MOMA, New York, the MAM in Paris and in Geneva (Palais de l'Athenee).

loss to frame, bottom left corner