Gerard Cochet (1888-1969)

Gérard Cochet wasborn October 13, 1888 in Avranches, Manche, Lower Normandy. He grew up in the Nantesregion, The Treillières. He made his highschool, as his father with the Jesuits of Vannes. Back to Nantes, he studied law and taking drawing classes atthe painter Girard-Leduc.

Ability and taste fordrawing made him choose a career in art, and from 1909 to 1914 he attended theAcadémie Julian in Paris where he studied with Henri Royer and Marcel Baschet. In 1913 he began to exhibit(Fair Comedians).

A volunteer in 1914:corporal and sergeant in the 104th Infantry Regiment, he was wounded May 5,1915 Ambly sur Meuse. Mutilated to 65% by the loss of his right eye, he gets theMilitary Medal and the Croix de Guerre three quotes.

His "booksSergeant Cochet," collecting drawings and sketches made on the Front andelements of his diary are a valuable record of this painful experience. He returned to work in 1917and started burning the wood over and standing timber, finally stone(lithography) and copper with the advice of André DAUCHEZ. He obtained a grant Blumenthal in 1924 for burning.

He was appointedpainter to the Navy in 1925 (and Honorary painter in 1946). He has received shipmentsaboard the Battleship "Britain" in 1926 (Algiers, Tunis, Malta), thesubmarine "Morse" in 1926 (Cherbourg), the Cruiser"Duguay-Trouin" in 1927 (Portsmouth) The Battleship"Richelieu" in 1949 (Atlantic, Mediterranean). It also has a private capacity, made 17 sailing cruisesaboard Pelléas II and the Steel Wind.

As a painter of theNavy, he also executed works to decorate the officers' lounge or the commanderof buildings: The Counter-Torpedo "Terrible," The submarine"Surcouf" The Counter-Torpedo "Tartu "the commander'soffice at Orly school foams Brest (watercolors), the arsenal of Toulon ...Professor at the Ranson Academy from 1932 to 1935, he was a founding member andVice-President of" The young Engraving Contemporary "in 1928. Member of the Society ofwriters painters. Member of the Salon desIndependants. Member of the Salon d'AutomneCommittee. He painted more than 1,000 paintingsand executed numerous drawings, watercolors and gouaches, which represents mostof the scenes of the countryside and rural life in Normandy, and it providesvaluable evidence, very representative and living on Norman peasant lifebetween the wars.

He is also known asan engraver, with many etchings, etchings, lithographs (black and color),woodcuts and some ceramics. He has performed in numerous book illustrations, with amistress work, illustrating the complete Fables of La Fontaine (247 etchings).

Chevalier of theLegion d'Honneur in 1934 as military and officer of the Legion of Honor as theFine Arts in 1954, he died at his Paris home on 8 January 1969.

Courtesy Wikipeida